I have just bought a Portuguese laptop. The Windows XP is in Portuguese. I have been advised that I can change the language in the set up. But the problem is I can't speak Portuguese so I can't work out how to do this.

Can anyone help me to change the language?

Cheers
J

your best bet is reformat the hard drive with a englisgh version of windows xp

Jake wrote:I have just bought a Portuguese laptop

Jake,
You need to go into your control pannel, regional and language options. From this setting you can change your regional language display for your operating system. It might be a little tricky at first as the languages are different but the icons are in the same places. I had to change the displayed language from Arabic to English last week on an Iraqi's computer and it was a pain to figure out how to do it. Hope this helps.

Hi DC / Jake / todos
I’d be interested to learn the difference between buying a pc with windows in English ….. and …… getting windows in a foreign lingua then changing the settings

I changed the language on my mobile once to turkish (for a laugh) then coz I couldn't read turkish I couldn't work out how to change it back

I sympathise with Jake.

BD2 That is absolutely brilliant. It actually made me laugh out loud when I read it. No Turkish delight then ?

Although your PC is capable of displaying a whole array of diferent languages and symbols, your installed operating system cannot be changed from the language you purchased it in ("Start" will remain "Iniciar" and all the menu options of the core programs like right-click, IE, defrag, paint, etc from there on). However, you can install all other programs like Office, Paintshop, Acrobat, etc in english and they will work - so there is no real need to change the OS as long as you can find your way around the core system for maintenance, etc.

If you want the operating system to work in english, you will have to format the HD and purchase a copy of XP in english.

Thanks for all the replies.

I don't actually mind my computer being in Portuguese, I do want to learn the language after all. I just have had a problem trying to install my webcam. It insists that XP should be in English. I have changed all I can to English but I would need a copy of XP to change it all, as suggested by Gambrinus and portugeezer.

So maybe rather than spend far too much on an English version of XP I will just have to get a new webcam.

J