Changing XP Language

hey,
some italian friends of mine have just bought a new computer, with an english version of windows xp. is there any way of changing the language without buying the italian version of windows xp?

i searched ocau but just found this thread http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?s=&threadid=137567&highlight=changing+languages .. but wasnt a heap of help.

are there any patches or anything you can get?

thanks!

 

I don't know if this will help but I will have a crack at this.

I have similar problem, but in my case the language is Korean.

What I have found is that if you want to add another language capablity (in addition to English) you have to download and install MS Input Method Editor. The program is about 11mb.

This adds additional language(s) capability to your win xp installation and allow you to switch between languages once it is installed.

You can write in language of you choice. The editor has a switch which allows you to switch between languages so your keyboard layout will change depending on the language selected (ie. Italian in your case, Korean in mine). You can also input characters using your mouse and have it recognise the characters from a list. It is slow but it works in non alphabet based languages (ie, Korean, chinese, arabic).

This is a very crude solution but it works and is free. The input editor works in MS Word (I tested this) and (I assume) other applications like Excel.

Your menues will still be in English but you have the ability to write in foreign language.

Hope this helps.

 

You can use Multilanguage User interface pack form ms.

This enable you to switch between english and other languages.

 

from what i gather this must be bought.. is this true?

 

You don't you drop a msg to microsoft and find out.

Coz i got my thing from a friend.

 

Italian should be support under XP without needing the IME, it is only for more complex languages like Japanese as the text orientation is differnt ( top to bottom ). Start -> Control panel -> regional and language options.

 

AlanC, can you elaborate? What do you mean you got yours from a friend? Are you telling me that this MUI is a separate program you can install?

 

yes, Multilanguage User interface pack is a separate program. But i am not sure if u need to purchase it or not.

Its not like the IME input. Multilanguage User interface, allow you to switch User interface to/from other language.

 

AlanC can you tell me where you (or your friend) got this pack from?

I need to get one. My mum is using the computer to browser internet and I get called to troubleshoot. It is driving me crazy.

This pack would solve my problem with language.

Thanks.

 

Try to email microsoft. I only got them but don't know how.

 

Yeh, if you just want to type italian, you can use the IME but if want all menus etc in intalian, you need to purchase the Italian Language Pack from microsoft.
I had a similar problem for the office suite and needed to purachase the Chinese language pack.