Everything is in Japanese. Need to convert to English

[Goopster]

I have a friend who has 2 computers both of them have everything in Japanese. Is there a way to convert everything to English. I mean by installing new operating system or something like that ? are those computers any good?

 

[AndyHui]

If Windows is in Japanese, you will need to install an English version of Windows.

Beware that many products from Japan are Japanese only, so they may not have device drivers and a few other things available in English.

 

[vash]

Ok, I've done a lot of testing when it comes to Japanese (and other far eastern versions) Windows and hardware.

Questions:
1. Who is the manufacturer of the machines (i.e. NEC, Fujitsu, Sony, etc)
2. Does the keyboard look mostly "normal"? Or does it have a different kind of arrangement (i.e. missing keys, etc)?
3. Is the keyboard plugged in via PS/2, USB or another interface you have never seen before?
4. When you look at "My Computer", do you see the main drive as A: versus C: ?

Depending on the kind of machine it is, you may have a "PC98" machine and you're pretty stuck on having a Japanese Windows on there (unless you install *nix). If you have the "NX" variety, you can generally install whatever you want, etc. The only caviat to this is the internal modem, sound and NIC drivers (sometimes they are Japan specific, but generally aren't).

I'm betting you have an NX variety and if you do, you're pretty set with anything you'd like to do with it. If you have PC98, you could install a newer Japanese Windows (XP, 2k) and default the character set to English (if you can navigate through those menus).

vash

 

[Goopster]

My friend has Dell Optiplex G1. I will find out about the rest of the questions from him and get back to you. What is *NIX. and how can he find out if it is PC98 or the NX variety?

Originally posted by: vash
Ok, I've done a lot of testing when it comes to Japanese (and other far eastern versions) Windows and hardware.

Questions:
1. Who is the manufacturer of the machines (i.e. NEC, Fujitsu, Sony, etc)
2. Does the keyboard look mostly "normal"? Or does it have a different kind of arrangement (i.e. missing keys, etc)?
3. Is the keyboard plugged in via PS/2, USB or another interface you have never seen before?
4. When you look at "My Computer", do you see the main drive as A: versus C: ?

Depending on the kind of machine it is, you may have a "PC98" machine and you're pretty stuck on having a Japanese Windows on there (unless you install *nix). If you have the "NX" variety, you can generally install whatever you want, etc. The only caviat to this is the internal modem, sound and NIC drivers (sometimes they are Japan specific, but generally aren't).

I'm betting you have an NX variety and if you do, you're pretty set with anything you'd like to do with it. If you have PC98, you could install a newer Japanese Windows (XP, 2k) and default the character set to English (if you can navigate through those menus).

vash

 

[vash]

Goopster,

You mentioned your friend had a Dell, then that machine is probably of the "NX" variety. Go forth and install any Engrish language OS you like, you should be fine.

There really would only be a concern if the machine was from NEC. But since it isn't, you should be fine.

BTW, *nix refers to the myriad of Unix-like choices out there.

vash