Changing language and localization

[lordax]

Hello.
I'm living in Spain for some time now but I speak English; I do speak Spanish too but I like to have the software in English. So, as I bought Windows here, it is in Spanish and I wish to change it to English. I already set location and format to English, but it still shows everything in Spanish.
Another thing that really bothers me is that if I download i.e. drivers for my VGA and even I specifically chose English, upon installing, it changes to Spanish. The same goes for most games that I guess read somewhere in Windows that I'm in Spain or something so they automatically install in Spanish.
So, first, how can I change the language in Windows? I don't have any option like "show text in English" in the Language Configuration settings.
Second, what do I have to change so installers pick English as install configuration?
Thanks for any help.

 

[Barman58]

As far as i am aware Home premium is shipped in one of several languages including English and spanish and are fixed in that language.

Ultimate is possible to run more than one language or to change but not the other SKU the option of an anytime upgrade to ultimate may be your only option in this case

 

[SIW2]

Are you familiar with loading registry hives remotely? If you are , I can talk you through it.

I assume you bought the machine with Home Premium preinstalled?

Before trying anything, make a backup image of your windows 7 partition and store it somewhere safe ( preferably an external HD ).

Macrium (free) will do image backup job nicely and will only take a few minutes.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

In Macrium main window , click "Other tasks" > create recovery disc>tick the Linux Option and burn it to a cd.

You will need that to restore the image.

 

[lordax]

I bought the parts for a new PC because the old one was dying, so I bought Home Premium too. The thing is that as I bought the parts, I got the PC assembled by the tech support, which included installing Windows, I guess if it had the option to chose language, they chose Spanish. I already installed games and software, I really would like to skip another installation.

 

[Barman58]

The HP disk that was used to install your system was I assume a Spanish one and thus only had the Spanish language included - the options such as locale and keyboard are there to match hardware and date conventions Etc, You can for example use a french keyboard with it's own layout to input to an english version the Keyboard setting simply matches the keyboard key mapping to the physical keyboard

The anytime upgrade will leave all your programs installed and allow you to change the system lanuguage. it should also include the programs and games but you may need to re-install them in some instances.
this is of course a chargable upgrade