Xp Pro Thai Language Support

[doctormann]

My PC came with WIN XP Pro pre-installed, hence I do not have the Windows CD.

No problem until I installed Service Pack Release 2 (at Microsoft's suggestion - in fact they kept nagging me about it). The Thai language support, which I had previously, has subsequently disappeared and I can't get it back. Thank you Mr Gates!

A visit to the Microsoft website revealed that language packs are available for downloading but the site checks your PC for legitimacy first. It reckons that my copy of XP Pro is not a legitimate copy and refuses to provide the download.

I suppose that one solution is to buy a new copy of XP Pro. This is likely to be expensive unless it's another rip-off copy (from Tuk Com maybe?) and I need the version that incorporates SR 2 and MS Front Page.

Any suggestions guys?

DM

[Firefoxx]

Go ahead and get the pirated copy (with SP2 integrated, most are now, but not Frontpage). I don't think that there will be any real problem, since you do have the license to install it on your PC. Of course, just adding the Thai support shouldn't require a new install, just the disc itself.

[RDN]

My PC came with WIN XP Pro pre-installed, hence I do not have the Windows CD.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You should always get all software and drivers on CDs when you buy a new PC. "Should" being the operative word.

[Firefoxx]

Actually most brand name desktops and notebooks come with a "recovery" CD, which wipes your harddisk and then writes the original image. It's not your typical Windows install disk, as there are no options and no installation process. The recovery CD doesn't contain system files like the Windows install disk, so if you want any files (like language files), you're out of luck. If you're lucky, you might get a drivers/manual disk too.

[RDN]

Actually most brand name desktops and notebooks come with a "recovery" CD, which wipes your harddisk and then writes the original image.  It's not your typical Windows install disk, as there are no options and no installation process.  The recovery CD doesn't contain system files like the Windows install disk, so if you want any files (like language files), you're out of luck.  If you're lucky, you might get a drivers/manual disk too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, I was going to mention the "recovery CD" - bad news for people who bought PCs for their company, hoping to install the latest OS at home, too. Dell started doing that about the same time as XP came out - very disappointed, I was!

[astral]

Yes, I was going to mention the "recovery CD" - bad news for people who bought PCs for their company, hoping to install the latest OS at home, too. Dell started doing that about the same time as XP came out - very disappointed, I was!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

HP does the same.

Fine for the service centre to clean a machine, or in an education setup to restore the machine to a predefined point.

Useless for anyone else.

You may find a folder called WinXP, with a subfolder i386, which will be the complete set of install files.

I suggest you burn a cd with all these files. Make to a bootable cd.

Bart has all the details.

Then you can do a clean install, if required.

[RDN]

....I suggest you burn a cd with all these files.  Make to a bootable cd.

Bart has all the details.

Then you can do a clean install, if required.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the link

[doctormann]

Go ahead and get the pirated copy (with SP2 integrated, most are now, but not Frontpage).  I don't think that there will be any real problem, since you do have the license to install it on your PC.  Of course, just adding the Thai support shouldn't require a new install, just the disc itself.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good advice Firefox - thanks.

Paid a visit to our new TukCom here in Pattaya and obtained WIN XP Pro with SP2. No Front Page but I think that this was a bit of a red herring as this package usually seems to come integrated with Word.

Problem is now completely sorted for very little cost.

DM

[doctormann]

You may find a folder called WinXP, with a subfolder i386, which will be the complete set of install files.

I suggest you burn a cd with all these files.  Make to a bootable cd.

Bart has all the details.

Then you can do a clean install, if required.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good idea this, if I can get Nero to work reliably - installing SP2 screwed this up as well! I shall probably look into getting a Nero upgrade that is fully XP Pro SP2 compatible. IMO, Easy CD is a better product than Nero anyway - I've used this on a previous machine (but no longer have the software) and it never once produced a bad disc. I can't say that about Nero!

The subfolder i386, that you mention, does not seem to contain language support files that are not installed by Windows as default options, unless you opt to install them, maybe. The East Asian and R-L scripts, including Thai, are not defaults and I think that is why I lost them. Not sure though but I have heard tales of SP2 screwing up all sorts of things!

DM

[micman]

Good idea this, if I can get Nero to work reliably - installing SP2 screwed this up as well!  I shall probably look into getting a Nero upgrade that is fully XP Pro SP2 compatible. IMO, Easy CD is a better product than Nero anyway - I've used this on a previous machine (but no longer have the software) and it never once produced a bad disc.  I can't say that about Nero!

DM

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The nero website has all the updates to get nero working with SP2. I installed sp2 and the nero updates months ago and have never had any problem with them.

You might go to microsoft and see if you can find the id number for the Thai language support and get it as a seperate download and then install it.

Be careful that you don't get the Thai language interface for XP as it changes everything in Windows XP to Thai. Help, files, etc.

I've got bootleg XP pro and i slipstreamed in SP2 and have never had any problem with getting updates from microsoft. I just let M$ check for what updates are needed and get the numbers for them and then download them seperately

and install them later. Never let Microsoft update your system and turn off auto update altogether is the best way to go.

[RDN]

....Never let Microsoft update your system and turn off auto update altogether is the best way to go.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disagree - mine is updated automatically, no problems.

[chanchao]

Hold on, I would first check that you really lost Thai language support, and that it's not merely turned off.

(Control Panel -> Regional & Language Options -> Languages Tab -> Click 'Details' -> Now click the 'Add' button and add Thai language with a Kedmanee keyboard layout.)

Cheers,

Chanchao