Windows XP: Cannot activate East Asian language support

I want to install the files for supporting East Asian languages on Windows XP, which is usually possible through the regional and language options. However, the relevant checkbox (see below) is deactivated /grayed out on my machine.

Could this be because it's Windows XP Home on a netbook? I'm pretty sure I could activate it on other XP Home instances, and all the pages I've found on netbook-specific restrictions only talked about hardware limits.

Or could there be some other reasons, maybe something I can do to make it work?

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Michael Borgwardt

Posted 2009-12-12T12:21:59.797

Reputation: 3 047

Sorry, have to ask: have you tried rebooting? – hyperslug – 2009-12-12T12:31:03.350

How could that possibly help? My problem is not that configuration changes I've made aren't having an effect, the problem is that the checkbox I need to check is deactivated / grayed out. – Michael Borgwardt – 2009-12-12T12:52:11.510

Answers

If it is checked and grayed out, that means it is already installed.

All that is logically left to do is go to the Advanced tab and, under "Select a language to match the language version of the non-Unicode programs you want to use:", choose your language.

harrymc

Posted 2009-12-12T12:21:59.797

Reputation: 306 093

Except it's not checked and grayed out. – Michael Borgwardt – 2009-12-12T14:02:01.400

Do you mean that it's unchecked and still grayed out? – harrymc – 2009-12-12T15:00:59.120

2If yes, then next question is : Are you logged-in as administrator? – harrymc – 2009-12-12T15:06:55.493

@Michael Borgwardt: That's one solution, but my idea would be a clear UI where the reason would be clearly displayed. For example if this was in a group box titled "Administrator permissions required". – harrymc – 2009-12-22T06:59:25.347

I've found various sites (including this one from Microsoft) that explain the process and none of them mention that you have to have a specific version of XP to enable East Asian languages so it looks like your assumption that it should work on XP Home is correct.

So if, as you say the option is greyed out, it looks like you might have hit a restriction on your machine, what make/model is it?

This page on the Asus support forums has some conflicting information.

The first post indicates that they need SP3 installed - I'm assuming you've got that.

Another post implies the feature is only available with XP Pro - but that contradicts other information I've found.

The last post indicates that the files should be on the disks that came with the PC.

ChrisF

Posted 2009-12-12T12:21:59.797

Reputation: 39 650

My problem is that I cannot even start the process of installing the files because the checkbox is disabled. The model is an Asus Eee PC 904HD. – Michael Borgwardt – 2009-12-12T12:54:12.460

The page you've liked to describes issues with finding the files, which I can only assume happens after activating the checkbox. But maybe the files can be installed manually; I'll have to look into that. – Michael Borgwardt – 2009-12-12T13:11:47.637