Permanently changing default language

[grahamrhind]

I bought a laptop with Vista Ultimate in Dutch and have downloaded and installed the English language module. I have changed the default language in all the correct places, but at every restart the PC defaults back to Dutch language and I have to change it to English.

Does anybody know how to PERMANENTLY change the default interface and input language without deleting the Dutch language module?

Thanks!

 

[linney]

Are you making these changes as an Elevated Administrator? Have you tried holding the Shift Key down while right-clicking on "Regional Languages" in the Control Panel and selecting "Run As Administrator"? Any setting you make as regards to Languages , are there options available to move the English settings above the Dutch settings in the list as there are in the Input Keyboard settings?

My interpretation of this comment, quoted from the first article, seems to me that not all of the operating system in converted to English, perhaps the only real way is to clean install an English version of Vista?

"Windows Vista Language Interface Pack (LIP).? Windows Vista LIPs provide a translated version of the most widely used areas of the user interface. LIPs are freely available to download, and most LIPs can be installed and used on any edition of Windows Vista. Because not all of the user interface is translated, LIPs require at least one parent language. The parts of the user interface that are not translated into the LIP language are displayed in the parent language. When you download a LIP, you get the parent language requirements for that language. The parent language pack needs to be installed before the LIP can be installed. For more information, including a list of languages available for downloading, go to the Microsoft Local Language website".


How do I get additional language files?

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/35a1b021-d96c-49a5-8d8f-5e9d64ab5ecc1033.mspx

Change the display language

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/2bac0e03-c331-48fc-8b7e-b66b8007512d1033.mspx

Windows Vista Ultimate language pack release information

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925471

 

[grahamrhind]

Thanks Linney.

I had to trot off to find out what an "elevated administrator" was, but the shift key idea only gave me a "run as..." option without any level specified (I am logged in as an administrator).

I'm on Vista Ultimate and I think it was a MUI file rather than a LIP file which I downloaded.

There continue to be Dutch messages here and there, so clearly the whole interface hasn't been translated. It would be nice to be able to change the default language permanently, but I suppose I'll have to wait for that

Graham

 

[linney]

I think that quote was referring to "LIP". With MUI Packs, I think that the Parent System must be English in the first place?

As to an Elevated Administrator, Vista is different to previous Operating Systems, in that Administrators only run as Standard Users, unless you use the right-click, or the UAC Prompt when offered, to run the Administrator at an Elevated Privilege.