How to change language

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Guest

Dear all,

Recently, my brother has just got Windows Vista installed in Paris during
his vacation. he now would like to change the language into English because
we cannot read French. I tried so many time to change it but it seemed so
impossible to change it into English. If anyone could help me i would really
appriciate.

Best regards

Sam
 
Windows Vista is written in specific language versions. You would need
to purchase a "Full English Version" of Windows Vista and proceed with
a "clean install".

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

Dear all,

Recently, my brother has just got Windows Vista installed in Paris during
his vacation. he now would like to change the language into English because
we cannot read French. I tried so many time to change it but it seemed so
impossible to change it into English. If anyone could help me i would really
appriciate.

Best regards

Sam
 
While Vista has multi lingual capabilities you can't alter the language in
which the toolbars etc are displayed. If you have a French user interface
then nothing you do will turn it into English. Your only option is to buy an
English version of Vista and then do a clean install.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
Sam;
It is possible if you have Vista Ultimate.
Go to "Clock, Language and Region" in the Control Panel
Click "Change display language"
Select the desired language in the dropdown under "Choose a display
language"
If English is not available, go to Windows Update and download the
appropriate language.
 
The "Change the display language " feature Jupiter Jones references will not
be the same as changing all the language in your OS any more than you can
get a magic wand to change your car make. It is limited. The only
substitute for complete language change is an English version or whatever
version, however there are some things you can do to enhance what is in
Windows for free.

The display language is the language that Windows uses in wizards, dialog
boxes, menus, Help and Support topics, and other items in the user
interface.

When you change the display language, the text in menus and dialog boxes for
some programs might not be in the language that you want. This happens
because the program might not support Unicode.

For more information about changing the text in menus and dialog boxes for
programs that do not support Unicode, see Change the system locale.

With additional language files, you can change the display language on your
computer so that you can view wizards, dialog boxes, menus, Help topics, and
other items in Windows in a different language.

There are two types of language files:

Windows Vista Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI).‌ Windows Vista MUIs
provide a translated version of most of the user interface. MUIs require a
license to be used and are only available with Windows Vista Ultimate and
Windows Vista Enterprise.

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 for download on the Microsoft website, 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 are given the parent language requirements for that language. The parent
language pack needs to be installed before the LIP can be installed.

CH
 
Useful threads - thanks.

On 28 March I was given an Acer laptop with Vista Home Premium installed in
Arabic. I cannot read Arabic, so even getting started is a not possible.
Can I load Vista Home Premium in English, or even XP Home in English, and do
so in a dual boot configuration, so as to be able to use the laptop? If so,
how should I do this and where could I get advice? Operating system cost
affordability is an issue.

Acer unhelpfully suggested that I should trash the machine.

Acer uses a partition to store the original operating system on the C drive.
If I simply installed an English version of Vista, will it overwrite the
Arabic OS? From a future reselling point of view, my best choice would be to
have a machine that is fully dual language capable – just like the laptop's
keyboard.

AJ
 
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