Start Menu: foreign language 3

[manhunter2826]

Folks, bear with me on this. A friend of mine has been given a Winxp laptop, but the Start Menu is in Arabic. How does one go about changing this?? We have looked in the Language Option, but that just changes Keyboard language etc, not the Start Menu. Any ideas?? Or do we need a complete re-installation of Windows?? As always, much thanks

 

[vacunita]

Basically you can't. Windows installations come in region based languages. so computers that you'd buy from a certain region will have windows in that region's language.

You cannot change the language since its built into the Os.

Your best bet is to get an english version of windows install Cds and re-install it to get the UI in english.




----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[manhunter2826]

^^Thanks for really quick reply. If I DID install an English version of Windows, would that mean I would have to also re-install all the drivers etc. for the notebook? Thanks.

 

[linney]

I don't think you can upgrade Install to change the language so you may need to clean install and format, which means any drivers not included on the Windows CD will have to be downloaded from the manufacturer web site, or saved from your current install (as long as the language differences don't cause a problem in using your current drivers).

http://www.drivermax.com

Things like MUI languages Packs only install on English Versions, and not on XP Home, I believe.

Windows XP & Windows 2000 MUI

http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/DrIntl/faqs/MUIFaq.mspx#MUIques2

Windows XP - Home and professional editions
Arabic Language Support

http://www.microsoft.com/middleeast/arabicdev/Windows/winXP/wPapers.aspx

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f3/how-can-i-set-my-windows-xp-german-english-220452/

 

[manhunter2826]

Thanks also Linney: so looks like a reformat and clean install and then obtain drivers. thanks both

 

[manhunter2826]

Would it be worth trying a 'repair installation' (below) or am I clutching at straws here? Thanks.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

 

[linney]

What type of XP CD (English) are you using full or upgrade version?

I would be surprised if any repair install got much past you inserting the CD and starting the repair/upgrade process, what with the different language versions. This is not something I have done myself so I don't really know what might happen. Why don't you try your idea and tell us the result? If you have backed up your valuable data, and are heading for a clean install and format, you have nothing to lose, other than a few minutes of your time, in attempting the repair install first.

 

[manhunter2826]

Thanks linney: will do so. I am just so surprised that Microsoft have no easy 'fix' for this...Anyhow, will give this a go

 

[linney]

I hope you post back your results, and your final solution, so others may benefit by your experience.

 

[SysRed]

I too would be interested as i live in Spain serving the Ex pat community. I have only ever been able to do a complete format and re-install to change to the English version. You can not buy English versions of any MS product here, the resellers are not permitted to.

 

[toolman59]

Thanks Linney, the link to drivemax.com is worth a star as far as I am concerned.

toolman59

 

[manhunter2826]

Ok folks, no luck i'm afraid; repair install will not let me change the language to English. So it's gonna be a reformat and fresh install on xp. Just thought i'd report back. Bizarre though, as Windows allows you to change Regional and Language Options in Control Panel but not the actual OS Language Anyhow, thanks so much for all the replies

 

[vacunita]

Basically the Regional settings affect formatting. I'll take Spain as an example. Setting the regional settings to Spain, or Spanish, will set the formatting options for currency, dates, numbers etc.. to reflect that regions standards. Such as $1,000.00 english currency value will become: 1.000,00€. Notice how the comma and decimal point change positions as they are used to designate different things.

Also the keyboard layout will also be modified such that certain characters are available and others change positions in a standard keyboard. Instead of having the : and ; key print those characters, you'll get the "ñ" character to be used for words in the Spanish language.

As you have seen, the actual language of the OS cannot be changed unless you do a full re-install.




----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[manhunter2826]

^^Thanks vacunita for the explanation