hmm, i reinstalled for a third time and this time the problem got fixed!
i definitely watched and noticed how towards the very end of the main instal (before the update 1.42) the prog installs things in "windows/fonts"--i think that the program would have done this upon each installation but my explanation is that of quantum physics and shamanism:
the fact of observing observable phenomenon one can imprint the intent/outcome of the whole set up...
...of course every one knows that this is how gauges work anyway--haha
thanks again for the great gauges!! i still have to figure out the adf nav1 nav2 switches on some of the variations but that's no prob!
here is an ugly screen capture to celebrate it: