I have a serious problem. When I attempt to open word or excel or powerpoint, it seems to be opening in a DOS mode and it comes out with all kinds of symbols and characters. When I try to do a system restore, word opens up and again it displayes funny squares and characters. I can't open AIM or anything. PLEASE HELP!

Does this only happen in Office apps?

Are your other fonts ok?

Did this just start happening?

Under Office apps you can click Help then Detect & Repair (you will need your disks)

Or you might want to consider posting a HijackThis log:

please follow owen's Instructions and then post your log in the Spyware, Adware, Viruses and HijackThis Logs section (Not Here).