Solved SOLVED: Change language Windows 7 Home Premium OEM Spanish to English

[allend66]

Hi all, I thought I'd share this with the community, as I myself had been looking for an answer for quite a time.

Scenario: English ex-pat living in Spain. Bought new laptop (Toshiba Satellite L500-20Z) with OEM Windows 7 Home Premium in Spanish. Want Windows 100% in English.

I'd been trawling through the threads, and had found these:
Completely change language of Ultimate installation? & win 7 language change

Googling also revealed I could only change the language if I had an Ultimate or Enterprise licence.

I had thought of downloading a legitimate English version Home Premium ISO from Digital River, but a format and clean install was a last resort - even though there's plenty of OEM bloat, I didn't want to risk some things not working or have problems trying to activate later. So I made a C: drive image, just in case.

Solution: Download MS English language Pack (don't forget to check the MD5 hash), download Vistalizator. The language pack won't install by itself - probably because the OS isn't Ultimate or Enterprise, but launch vistalizator (it doesn't install, just runs) and open the language pack from there.

The only thing is, I wanted my main account in English and a secondary user account in Spanish, but that isn't possible. I CAN still change back and forth between languages, but I have to do it through Vistalizator and reboot… The language settings in the control panel don't do anything, and the vistalizator language switch is a global change - all accounts are either English or Spanish.

But it works - 100% in English, and I'm loving my new laptop!

Regards,
D

 

[derekimo]

I don't think this will stay here very long since vistalizator is a hack that violates the EULA.

 

[allend66]

ah, didn't know, sorry. so the alternative is to get an english copy of the licence i paid for and fresh install?

 

[derekimo]

ah, didn't know, sorry. so the alternative is to get an english copy of the licence i paid for and fresh install?

That's what you're supposed to do.

 

[allend66]

i could still do that, but from experience something won't work afterwards... even though I've snatched all the drivers from the toshiba website, something's bound to be amiss.

 

[derekimo]

i could still do that, but from experience something won't work afterwards... even though I've snatched all the drivers from the toshiba website, something's bound to be amiss.

That's what we're here for, solving what might become amiss.

 

[allend66]

thanks a lot...

I could format and install,... seems like a lot of work though being as my laptop is how I want it. Though thinking about it, I could get rid of the bloat (30-day macafee, 60 day office, ebay links (!!) and the like...
I'll give it some thought..

 

[derekimo]

thanks a lot...

I could format and install,... seems like a lot of work though being as my laptop is how I want it. Though thinking about it, I could get rid of the bloat (30-day macafee, 60 day office, ebay links (!!) and the like...
I'll give it some thought..

No prob, There was a dispute a while back about Vistalizator, that's why I mentioned it.

 

[allend66]

dispute? - nothing nasty about virus or malware, or anything?

I scanned the pc after and everything seems to be fine, no hangs, no pop ups, nothing, but if it is EULA violating then 'spose the admins should remove this thread?.

regards
D

 

[derekimo]

dispute? - nothing nasty about virus or malware, or anything?

I scanned the pc after and everything seems to be fine, no hangs, no pop ups, nothing, but if it is EULA violating then 'spose the admins should remove this thread?.

regards
D

Well they've already edited your original post, so I assume it's been reviewed.

No it wasn't about malware or anything, just someone wanting to change

languages in a version that doesn't allow it, it got heated and the thread was

removed, that was why I thought it wouldn't stay long. :huh:

 

[jacktorchwood]

Hi this is quite an old thread, so I was wondering if this issue had since been sorted out with Microsoft.

I'm in the same situation as the original poster Allend66 - that I've bought a new laptop in Spain and I'd like to change the language to English.

I'd appreciate it if somebody can give me the solution to this problem.

 

[t-4-2]

Hi this is quite an old thread, so I was wondering if this issue had since been sorted out with Microsoft.

I'm in the same situation as the original poster Allend66 - that I've bought a new laptop in Spain and I'd like to change the language to English.

I'd appreciate it if somebody can give me the solution to this problem.

Please read this :
Download Windows 7 MUI Language Packs (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life

In short, you have the wrong Win7 version. You cannot install the Language Pack in Home Premium.
What you need to do is upgrade your Spanish Home Premiun to Spanish Ultimate. Then install the language pack to switch from Spnaish to English.

 

[jacktorchwood]

Hey thanks for your prompt reply. That's maybe not a bad idea.
I was hoping that by now somebody might have found a way round it, or MS might have released a fix :sarc:
Anyway, how much might an upgrade cost? I'll google it !!

 

[allend66]

Hi and welcome to the forums.

The solution is to borrow a friends install disc and wipe/format your laptop. Use their disc to install the English version of Home Premium but use your 25digit key on the certificate on the underside of your laptop.

DO NOT USE Vistalizator - it is UELA violating and considered hacking software. (From experience I can tell you it isn't even that good anyway: it worked fine up till I ran Microsoft update and some things botched... instead of seeing a message in English or Spanish, there was only "Display Text 006" in the update result window.) Apart from getting you banned from this great forum, it'll muck up your system.

By the way, this is the first and 'unhelpful' thread on this issue, if you search for threads started by me you'll find the better thread, where I discussed this thread and the better way to solve the problem.

Post back...

 

[jacktorchwood]

Yes, I noticed you started this thread rather excitedly

I don't think I know anybody with an English version.......

 

[allend66]

For a digital copy of an install disc, use Google. Forum policy prevents me from giving you the URL, but it's easily findable.

Or take t-4-2's advice and buy a second licence, even though you don't need to.

 

[jacktorchwood]

Hey yeah, I've found the product key, so my search begins....

 

[jacktorchwood]

@ allend66:
So have I got this right?

1. I can upgrade to Spanish Ultimate, then change language. OK
2. I can download an MUI lang pack from 'My digital life' and have a part translation. OK
3. I can download a digital copy of an install disk, then use my own product 25 char key. But where do I find a digital copy that I know will work and do I have to pay anything?
4. Buy a second licence. How? Where?

Sorry to seem thick, but I'm new to this kind of problem.

 

[seavixen32]

You can buy a Windows Anytime Upgrade key here: Windows Anytime Upgrade - Buy and download today or have it delivered from Microsoft Store UK
You may need to change your location at the top of the screen.

Microsoft will e-mail you a new product key so all you need do then is go to Start>All Programs>Windows Anytime Upgrade and follow the instructions.

 

[jacktorchwood]

Thanks yes.
Or 5. Borrow a mate's installation disk, load the software with that but use my own product key stuck on the bottom of my laptop. Would that do it?