After I posted I found another workaround, maybe worth 98%. I was able to turn hinting back on. There is still an underlying bug.
add or edit xorg.conf as follows Section "Device" Identifier "Intel Graphics" Driver "intel" Option "AccelMethod" "uxa" EndSection
http://askubuntu.com/questions/582980/missing-letters-in-menus-and-folder-names/606583#606583
After I posted I found another workaround, maybe worth 98%. I was able to turn hinting back on. There is still an underlying bug.
add or edit xorg.conf as follows
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "AccelMethod" "uxa"
EndSection
http:// askubuntu. com/questions/ 582980/ missing- letters- in-menus- and-folder- names/606583# 606583