XP - English Version

[mikewilkes]

Some time ago I remember this came up. A friend wishes to buy a new laptop here in Spain.
Is it possible to go on Microsofts website and download an "english patch"?
If so where do you look bearing in mind the operating system is in Spanish.
Any help from our techies greatly recieved.

 

[Toutvabien]

I don't think you need any downloads. In XP go to control panel and then select Regional and Language settings, it has almost all the european languages that I am aware of.

 

[Birdseye]

With XP home the answer is "no". My in laws who live in Spain fell into this trap when they bought a spanish pc. their spanish is reasonable but their pc knowledge is limited and the combination of the 2 meant problems. we contacted microsoft who confirmed it was not possible to patch the spanish version into english. you have to buy a complete english version.

dont be misled by people who confuse the international settings on the desktop with being able to change over. these settings affect things like keyboard and will not alter the menus etc on XP. try it the other way round ie changing your home pc from english into spanish to see what I mean.

might be poss with XP Pro but I am not sure. incidentally, spanish pc dealers can get the english version if you want it.

 

[mairisona]

Have got the French version, can't change the language only the keyboard.

It'll be good for your language!

 

[BrendanS]

You need to contact microsoft to purchase a MUI interface pack. It has to be purchased, it's not a downloadable patch.
See original thread here http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Board/LIVEABOARD/Number/504488/an/0/view/collapsed/

PS. The vast majority of dealers won't have a clue about this, and even local microsoft offices won't know it exists. Contact Microsoft directly, and ask to speak to someone who can give you the correct information. The product does exist, and can be purchased.

 

[John_Lana]

Last year I bought a laptop in Spain - a Toshiba, and I got a one-off choice as to the operating language for XP. There was a choice of about 6 or 8 languages. It is a one-off choice though as the rest of the languages are erased.
However, about ten years ago I bought a desk-top in Spain and that had Windows 95 installed in Spanish - I was told by an "expert" that I could install the English version over the top - nightmare - the result was Spanglish at its worst. Only remedy was a reformat and install the English version. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Tread carefully!!
John

 

[BrendanS]

Very very different to what I'm talking about. If doing a reinstall, it needs to be just that. Wipe disk and start again, there is no short measure to a reinstall, and many make that mistake. Don't ever try to install a different language OS over an existing. Your registry will go to pieces as will many dll's.

The option I've mentioned comes direct from Microsoft. It adds a whole level of functionality that does not appear in standard OS. This is not the same as changing language in control panel, which changes how the keyboard operates. It actually changes the OS to the language you want to work in, so menus and everything else change language.

Not an easy concept for non IT literates, but it's a big change, and not suprising that MS don't advertise it much. As I've said before, you have to contact an MS office to find out how to purchase it, and they don't advertise prices, so might actually be cheaper to buy an english version of OS, format disk, and reinstall

 

[mikewilkes]

Thanks guys it would seem the simple answer would be to get Dell to deliver a new one here. They, my friends NOT Dell that is, know even less about computers than I do. Never thought I would find anybody like that!!!

 

[oldharry]

If you are being offered a good deal on the Spanish hardware, why not buy it without the OS software? then buy the UK version of XP from someone like Novatech (or many other on line computer dealers) and install it. With a clean disc, this takes around an hour, and is not difficult as it tells you what to do and when to do it. The only thing to be clear about is that the Spanish hardware drivers are compatible with XP.

 

[BrendanS]

Just noticed one pertinent fact, which sidelined me from your first sentence of buying laptop last year. You cannot, in any way or measure, expect experiences of ten years ago to be pertinent today. Update packs are available to change languages. Your experience 10 years ago is no way comparable to what happens here and now