Changing OS language of XP to English

[Guest]

A friend in Hesinki has bought a new PC with XP Home pre-installed in
Finnish. Bad, as he's English and doesn't speak Finnish.

Can he switch settings so that XP appears in English (that is, all windows,
error messages, menus etc are in English rather than Finnish)?

[FWIW I reckon that he needs to re-install Windows and change the Regional
Setting when he gets to that prompt - English should be a standard option.
But it would be easier if he could just change some settings on the existing
installation].

Advise/confirmation would be appreciated.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

I would suggest your friend return his new PC and order one with
the English version of Windows XP preinstalled.

Windows XP is written in specific language versions, therefore one
cannot change it from one language version to another. You'll need
to purchase a "Full Version" of Windows XP in the language version
you desire, reformat your drive and install it "clean".

Or if you have an available empty drive or partition, you can install
another "Full Version" of Windows XP in a different language version
and create a dual-boot configuration.

Cannot Upgrade or Install a Different Language Version of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;282089

Welcome to WorldLanguage.com!
http://www.worldlanguage.com/

A good third-party partitioning program is Partition Magic 8.
http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/

Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

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

:

|A friend in Hesinki has bought a new PC with XP Home pre-installed in
| Finnish. Bad, as he's English and doesn't speak Finnish.
|
| Can he switch settings so that XP appears in English (that is, all windows,
| error messages, menus etc are in English rather than Finnish)?
|
| [FWIW I reckon that he needs to re-install Windows and change the Regional
| Setting when he gets to that prompt - English should be a standard option.
| But it would be easier if he could just change some settings on the existing
| installation].
|
| Advise/confirmation would be appreciated.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

You cannot upgrade or convert from one language version of the OS
to another, so you'll have to purchase and use the full version of
English WinXP to perform a clean installation.

Cannot Upgrade or Install a Different Language Version of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;282089


Bruce Chambers
--
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