How are fonts determined?

In Windows XP, when I use a non-Japanese font for example, the glyths for the Japanese characters are missing from the font, but still the Japanese characters can be displayed. Windows must be using another font from somewhere capable of displaying these missing glyths. Can anyone tell me how Windows determines what alternate fonts to use when the current font does not contain the proper glyths? Any help is appreciated .

#273713

Doesn't windows automatically use the characters from MSMincho? That's how it works for me...

#273965

Hmm...I'll check that out. I'm beginning to think it maybe specificed in the FontSubstitutes part of the registry.

EDIT: Solved my own problem,

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionFontLinkSystemLink

#274199