Language Packs and Regional Settings

Installing a new language on a PC is tricky. The best way to add languages is during the installation. If you’re running Vista Home, you’re out of luck. Look for third-party vendors or upgrade to Ultimate or Enterprise for language packs. Microsoft did not score many foreign relations points on this one. Nonetheless, Ultimate, or Enterprise edition, and any XP edition have a Control Panel applet called Keyboard and Languages. There you will need to enable right-to-left or Asian language support if you’re installing such a language. The actual installation will likely require the OS CD/DVD.

Although by default Windows computers are configured to be used in the United States, Windows computers are, in fact, used all over the world. In Control Panel for Windows XP, you can use Regional and Language Options to set the computer to be used in different countries, which modifies how the computer manages information such as time, money values, and numbers. In Windows Vista and Windows XP, the Region and Language applet in the Control Panel serves the same function. You can also access custom and advanced options to make specific adjustments within a specific region and language. You can add language packs on Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise using Windows Update. For detailed instructions, go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972813 or Google “How to add language packs to Windows 7.”