Win7 Japan to US-EN

I just purchased a Dell 9100 XPS but with Win7 Ultimate Japan OS, thinking I could just load a language pack and all would be good. Well, now I think I need native US-EN installed instead, for a lot of reasons. Can I 7reinstall Win7 for US-EN and use the same key I have for my currently installed Win7 Japan OS? Since I did not get a Win7 disk from Dell (not sure why), can I use one of my other Win7 CDs?
thanks so much for any guidance,
tommie c

Orbital Shark said:

Hi, welcome to the forums :)

Firstly you wont be able to install Windows 7 Ultimate EN-US using the Japanese Key, it's linked directly with the language for thet OS and will fail activation.

Secondly can you please explain why installing a language pack is not an option. You should be able to download the EN-US pack which will set you're entire OS to the EN-US language.


OS

Hi there
Some Language packs will only install dependant on the specific BASE language.

For example I can install the IS (icelandic) language pack on a base English W7 installation but it won't work on say a Russian base version.

You might find that English won't install on a Japanese base version -- but rather irritatingly in your case you'll probably find that you CAN install Japanese on to the base English version --haven't actually tried this but in Windows update the Japanese language pack is an optional download so I assume it would work.

Cheers

jimbo

Thanks for the feedback. I haven't been able to find the US-EN language pack in the Japan OS, even with the assistance of my Japan co-workers. I have some English language on the screen, but mostly Japanese language. Following the guidelines on the MS web in for US-EN, we can't find the same links in the Japanese OS.
To download and install a Windows 7 language pack, follow these steps:

1. Start Microsoft Update. To do this, click Start, type Microsoft Update in the Start Search box, and then click Microsoft Update in the Programs list.
2. Click the optional update links for the language packs.
3. Under the Windows 7 Language Packs category, select the desired language pack.
   
   Note If you install many additional language packs, the disk space and system performance are affected. In particular, disk space and system performance are affected during servicing operations, such as Service Pack installations. Therefore, we recommend that you only add a language pack to your computer if you will use the language pack.
4. Click OK, and then click Install updates to start the download and installation process.

No Microsoft Update in the Programs list and No Windows 7 Language Packs category to select.

I'm still in the Japan OS it seems, cause when I had to load a driver for NetGear I had to load the Japanese driver before it would recognize it.

Any suggestions or guidance on how to load the US-EN language would be deeply appreciated.... if it loads the US-EN OS, that would be great.

Thanks for the assist,
tommie c

Download Windows 7 MUI Language Packs (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) » My Digital Life

Might be of help, then again, maybe not

gpawood2 said:

Thanks for the feedback. I haven't been able to find the US-EN language pack in the Japan OS, even with the assistance of my Japan co-workers. I have some English language on the screen, but mostly Japanese language. Following the guidelines on the MS web in for US-EN, we can't find the same links in the Japanese OS.
To download and install a Windows 7 language pack, follow these steps:

1. Start Microsoft Update. To do this, click Start, type Microsoft Update in the Start Search box, and then click Microsoft Update in the Programs list.
2. Click the optional update links for the language packs.
3. Under the Windows 7 Language Packs category, select the desired language pack.
   
   Note If you install many additional language packs, the disk space and system performance are affected. In particular, disk space and system performance are affected during servicing operations, such as Service Pack installations. Therefore, we recommend that you only add a language pack to your computer if you will use the language pack.
4. Click OK, and then click Install updates to start the download and installation process.

No Microsoft Update in the Programs list and No Windows 7 Language Packs category to select.

I'm still in the Japan OS it seems, cause when I had to load a driver for NetGear I had to load the Japanese driver before it would recognize it.

Any suggestions or guidance on how to load the US-EN language would be deeply appreciated.... if it loads the US-EN OS, that would be great.

Thanks for the assist,
tommie c

Win7 product keys are not language specific. Having said that, first try out the language pack.

And yes, you can clean install Ultimate with a different disk but you'll need to activate with the COA key- thats the one on the sticker.

You may liketo take a look at Kari post here:
Language Pack only on ONE user

Success !! Following the screen shots in the links provided, I was able to install the US-EN language OS and so far so good .... thanks so very much to everyone that replied and helped me solve my problem.

I have been able to load EN programs and drivers for hardware.

tommie c

cluberti said:

You can install any language on Win7 Ultimate, but you need the full language pack. The link posted by Newt' will provide you with the En-US language pack that will install on Windows 7 jp. You can change languages in the control panel / regional options.

Hi there

Thanks for that info -- if a FULL language pack is available then it will install.

Some languages are "Partial" language packs in the sense that they will change the display (menus) and help facilities into the target language but they will only install on some specified BASE languages.

For example English WILL install on Russian Windows (Thank goodness !!!! when I'm doing a short piece of work in St. Petersburg).

Cheers
jimbo