Foreign languages in Windows 7 Professional

I'm posting a new thread about this because the most recent thread seems to have been over a year ago and I would like the most updated information...

I'm getting the awful feeling that it is not going going to be simple or easy or (shudder) even possible to install foreign languages on Windows 7 Professional, which I recently purchased and installed. Is it really true that I now need to purchase something else to be able to install language packs? If so, what?

I'm not one to go on a rant against Microsoft and even usually defend the company against the charges of fanatic MAC users, but if it's really true that I now need to buy something else, well, I'll be very angry. Language packs were available in the home version of Vista, for instance, so why would I, as a consumer, think that they wouldn't be in W Professional? The idea that ordinary Americans, for instance, only need English, is unbelievably retrograde in this day and age. I'm an academic who really needs to be able to type in foreign languages for my work.

Thank you, Kari. Yes, before I posted beginning this thread I saw the Vistalizator site and did not download anything because I was unsure about what it was. Thanks for the warning. I won't be taking that route. So my only option is to purchase Ultimate or Enterprise? Since I just recently purchased Win 7 Professional for about $300, I am not happy at all about having to purchase something else now for another $200 or so. If I did would I have to reinstall my operating system and start with everything on my hard drive from scratch again?

Methinks there is the possibility of a class action lawsuit here. Why would I, as a consumer, know that I would lose, rather than gain capability in going from Vista to Professional? There is nothing about this on the download page for the product on Microsoft's web site. How deep down in the literature is this loss of functionality? Or is it mentioned anywhere in their literature at all?

Robynyc said:

If I did would I have to reinstall my operating system and start with everything on my hard drive from scratch again?

No, using the Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to method it will just unlock those features for you.

I agree with Kari in that as of now, using any third party software could/would nullify the genuine status of your Windows. With regards to her longstanding argument with a certain Mike Connors in this forum, I find it odd that Mike Connors.... After vehemently putting his arguments against promoting piracy by promoting the use of third party software to make Windows 7 Professional possibly be able to support multi languages or any other language than the one it supports..... That he should later, in his last post on the subj matter, admit that he neither researched the implications of the use of such NOR has he used/tried said software himself. Thereby, for all his credentials which he has pointed out, I find it rather quite irresponsible to advice/recommend anybody (much more if they are neophytes) to even try 3rd party software that attempts to break or change the inherent capabilities of the Windows version in question ..... Causing more problems than in the beginning. Unfortunately, there is aplenty of people on the net that wld tell one to try this or that. So it is up to each to exercise caution, prudence, and common sense before trying anything. Read up on anything before you try it on your computer.... Do not just take any advice on its own merit... . Research first.