Japanese XP OS

[birchyboy]

This is a long shot, but someone might know ...

I am presently living in Japan and I have a Sony Vaio, with a Japanese XP OS.

Although I can use it, it's frequently a pain having to look up characters.

Does anyone know if it's possible to change it to an English version, other than reinstalling XP as an Englsih language version, thereby losing all my present programs and settings?

[Chris W]

When you say japanese language does that mean that all of the menus etc are in japanese?

i installed a thai version of windows for my lady so may be able to be of some assistance.

Do you have a us keyboard with japanese characters on as well?

[Paul K]

Can you not do it through the control panel, regional settings/ language settings applet?? Not looking at an XP machine at the mo so trying to remember what they call it.

[ikthius]

In XP

go to Control Panel click on the Regional & Language Options there you will have a drop down list so you can pick English UK

Once you have done that you can go to the advanced tab (thrid one) and pick the Language for Non-Unicode programs, as English UK
I assume you know what these parts look even in Japanese.

ik

[AndrewJ]

Like this?

[birchyboy]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Either I didn't make the problem clear, or there's something I don't understand.
I tried the regional and Unicode settings, so I can type in English or switch to kana.

However, the problem is with menus, particularly the error messages, some of which use complex kanji (pictograms) that I don't know and it takes ages to find out - if ever.

I sort of assumed that the OS is language specific, but I wondered if someone knew of a way to change it without a complete reinstallation.

Thanks for your time so far ... ありがとう　！

[ikthius]

what about downloading a new language pack from Micro$oft, for the OS, and use that, it may work, if not is there a system administrator that could help that speaks Japanese, so that they can fix eveything for you?

this may be of help, but also may not, it is a language pack:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

ik

Edit also try this:

[gazzae]

What you need is a MUI - Multilingual User Interface Pack

If your company has a volume licensing agreement with MS you should be able to get this.

http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/D...qs/muifaq.mspx

[birchyboy]

Thanks guys.

Monkeybreath and Ikthius - I have checked the MUI and it only helps if you already have English and want to add Thai, Latvian or somesuch.

Gazae - As you say, it needs a volume licensing arrangement. I only have 'XP Home' here, but I have XP Pro at home in England and I can convert it then. Right now, though, it looks as if I will have to just 'get by'.

Thanks to all of you for your time trying to help.