Random Letters Gone Missing from Menus

[john asmodeus]

I don't know if this is a virus, or a bug, or the heat (but my money's on a virus). It's happened twice now, so the red flags are going up in my head.

I'll be working along, and suddenly when I use the menu at the top of the screen for any application, there will be letters missing. For example, "File" becomes "Fil", "View" becomes "Vi w", and so forth. Seems random, but there will be odd consistencies - like most of the e's and m's (but not all) are gone, for example. A restart fixes it temporarily.

Anybody know what this is? I've got an external HD attached to this monkey, and I'm contemplating whether or not to quarantine it from my home machine because of this.

TIA

john a.

 

[AML707]

I don't think its a virus. Remember no such thing in the Mac enviroment... or at least right now. I downloaded a hacked version of Front Row and it took away my clock, spotlight icon and everything from the Menu Bar. Ummm...not really sure whats wrong . Its not a virus though Its most likely a bug.

 

[mad jew]

Try Resolving Duplicates in Font Book. It's in the Edit menu. Then restart again.

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

People have to stop these VIRUS VIRUS VIRUS claims! It just puts the mac in a bad light. Just because it happens to pc, doesn't neccesarily mean it's the same on a mac

 

[Nermal]

I'm seriously considering changing my signature to "No, you don't have a virus."

Anyway, I had the same problem once back on Jaguar. I don't remember how to fix it, but I'm sure you'd find something if you search for threads made by me in the 2003 era

 

[ftaok]

In defense of the OP, I've had this happen before and it's quite disconcerting. Sure, a restart will fix it, but when you first see it, the natural reaction can be VIRUS!

I've seen it two or three times. Really wierd.

ft

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

[...] when you first see it, the natural reaction can be VIRUS!

No it isn't... that's not a natural reaction on a Mac... actually that should be one of the last things on your mind when you want to debug Mac problems...

Unless, of course, you know you've done something stupid, like downloading unknown files from an unknown source which required administrator password when you double-clicked after overriding a Safari warning that this might be something harmful... then you can start thinking "malware"...

 

[kwissylawrencek]

Try Resolving Duplicates in Font Book. It's in the Edit menu. Then restart again.

Thankyou, worked perfectly

 

[samh]

People have to stop these VIRUS VIRUS VIRUS claims! It just puts the mac in a bad light. Just because it happens to pc, doesn't neccesarily mean it's the same on a mac

Of course most of the time PC users scream "virus virus virus" it's not a virus either, but either a bug, something misconfigured, or just plain user error.

 

[Gregg2]

All the virus fears come from a lack of understanding of what a virus is, and maybe the fact that any major real viruses that strike Windows get reported in the mass media. This leads to the widespread misconception that Computer Problem = Virus.