How To: Download and Install Free Fonts Using Windows XP

Computers only come with certain and dare I say, boring, fonts. When making graphics for business reasons, personal reasons, or just for fun, many times you need a font that does not come close to any of the original ones on your computer. I know that I have had this problem before, myself. If this is the case, then you are in luck, because there are people who make fonts, and websites that host them for free downloads to help people like us. The question is: how do I get the font from the internet, to my graphic? It is pretty simple using Windows XP.

1. Find the font you are wanting on one of the many font websites on the internet. I recommend DaFant.com, 1001Fonts.com, or UrbanFonts.com. Search around until you find the font that fits your needs. Many websites separate fonts into categories such as handwriting, fancy, block, etc. to make for easier searching.

2. Create a folder on your desktop (you can do this by right clicking on the desktop, and then go down to new, and then folder), and name it something that you can recognize as downloaded fonts. Fonts, or downloaded fonts works just fine.

3. On the website, right click the font you want and save target as. Save the file into your folder on the desktop (Save In > Desktop > your created font folder).

4. Once the font has downloaded, open your desktop font folder. (The download box may say 'open folder' - if not, or if the box disappears after the download is finished, open the folder from the desktop).

5. Double click the compressed folder that you just downloaded from the internet.

6. This should take you to a folder with a blue strip on the left side. At the top there should be a link that says, "extract all files." Click that link.

7. A box should pop up. This is the Extraction Wizard. Click next at the bottom of the box.

8. There should be a text box with a location in it, and above it says that your file will be extracted to this directory. Underneath the box, there is a browse button. Click it.

9. Click My Computer to expand the list.

10. Click Local Disk (C:) > WINDOWS > Fonts.

11. Click OK. The directory box should have a new location showing now. It should say C:\WINDOWS\Fonts.

12. Click next, and the font will be added to your selection of fonts.

13. Find the font you just downloaded in your program (Paintshop Pro, Windows Paint, etc.) and begin use.