China Romance

General Discussion and Useful Links => Useful Links And Articles => Topic started by: mustfocus on January 17, 2010, 10:42:03 am

Title: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: mustfocus on January 17, 2010, 10:42:03 am
I connected with Rocky last night/this morning and gave him the ability to view chinese text on his computer.  Rather than repeating the process every time someone needs this, I thought I would create an instruction page on how to do it.  You guys can access it HERE (http://fixityerself.blogspot.com).  Eventually there will be other simple tech support posts in there, but I thought you guys might be interested. :icon_cheesygrin:

As I said, there will be more posts there, but let me know if you want to see something specific...
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Martin on January 17, 2010, 12:16:21 pm
Good job mustfocus.  I am sure this will help a lot of guys.  Thanks for taking the time to do this for us.
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: mustfocus on January 17, 2010, 12:45:38 pm
Thanks!

Next up, being able to type up chinese characters (must know pinyin)...
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Martin on January 17, 2010, 12:54:50 pm
Quote from: 'mustfocus' pid='28479' dateline='1263750338'

Thanks!

Next up, being able to type up chinese characters (must know pinyin)...


HAHAHA...good luck with that one.  You also need to know Chinese characters, so you know which one to choose when they pop up.

For fun, I type in Chinese to my wife, and then ask her what I said.  Usually she is pretty confused and says something like...Gibberish.
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: mustfocus on January 17, 2010, 01:33:25 pm
Ok, did the post.  As you said, typing the characters in Pinyin is easy.  Choosing the right character is the hard part.  But that's what the translation web sites are for right? :icon_cheesygrin:

(I'm getting ready for all the screaming coming my way on why didn't I mention this before)
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: ttwjr32 on January 17, 2010, 06:08:13 pm
i could not open it?
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Vince G on January 17, 2010, 06:43:08 pm
Oh Ted? It's on a blog which is blocked there. OK...

Adding East Asian languages to Windows XP
A common request I get from people is for the ability to view chinese, japanese or korean web pages on their computers.  The problem is for the ability to actually see the characters.  Most people will see only boxes or pages full of garbage.  To view these pages, you need to enable the supplemental language support.  Here's how...

TOOLS YOU MAY NEED:
1) Your Windows XP CD (99% of the time you don't, but just in case)

HOW TO DO IT:
1) Click on START -> CONTROL PANEL -> REGIONAL AND LANGUAGE OPTIONS
2) A new window will pop up.  Along the top, you will see tabs for REGIONAL OPTIONS, LANGUAGES, ADVANCED.  Click on the LANGUAGES tab.
3) Make sure that the two check boxes in the SUPPLEMENTAL LANGUAGE SUPPORT box (see below) are checked and click on APPLY.  Windows will state that you need to install about 210Mb of files onto your computer.  Click OK and continue.


Click here for enlargement (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6q9z-UfLXwc/S1MswRAEGAI/AAAAAAAAAAM/JkLBVe_JmAI/s1600-h/Regional+and+language+options+1.JPG)


4) At this point, depending on how Windows XP was installed on your computer, you MAY be asked to insert your Windows XP CD.  I have had to do this less than a handful of times, but having the CD on-hand is always useful.
5) Reboot the computer.
6) Once you've restarted your computer, load up your favourite web browser and visit a chinese text web site (www.zaobao.com or www.wenxuecity.com for example).  If the installation went smoothly, you should be seeing chinese characters instead of boxes or garbage
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: mustfocus on January 17, 2010, 07:00:13 pm
Quote from: 'ttwjr32' pid='28508' dateline='1263769693'

i could not open it?


Sorry.  I just realized, you're in China and blogger is blocked there.  I'll PM you the text...

Or Vince can cut and paste it here. :)
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Vince G on January 17, 2010, 07:14:47 pm
Yeah, I copied and pasted, I wasn't taking credit for it. :icon_biggrin: (I'm kidding)

mustfocus, I was going to wait for Ted to reply but I have a question. If you don't have the CD? How does it load (if it wasn't installed in the first place?) is there somewhere you can download it from?
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: mustfocus on January 17, 2010, 07:20:18 pm
Quote from: 'Vince G' pid='28521' dateline='1263773687'

Yeah, I copied and pasted, I wasn't taking credit for it. :icon_biggrin: (I'm kidding)

mustfocus, I was going to wait for Ted to reply but I have a question. If you don't have the CD? How does it load (if it wasn't installed in the first place?) is there somewhere you can download it from?


99% of the time it is pre-loaded, but I have encountered a few times where the cab files (compressed data) were corrupted.  Fortunately I've never had to look around because I carry a copy of XP with me in my kit in case I need to install it (just need to take the serial number off the sticker on the side).  If it does happen, let me know.  But they should be downloadable somewhere.
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Vince G on January 17, 2010, 07:33:29 pm
I'm a Mac guy but just for argument sake someone like a friend of mine that loses anything that comes with something he bought?? He bought a 36 inch monitor, 2 days after I asked where is the remote? ??? D'oh!!!  I don't know? He bought a antivirus CD, He lost it before he could install it? So I know the XP disk will never be found.
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: mustfocus on January 17, 2010, 07:50:35 pm
If it is a pre-installed version (ie: a Dell or Lenovo or HP), They will have the files already preloaded.  But one way around this is to make the restore disk images as soon as you get the computer and put them in a safe place.

I'm not sure how Apple does it now, but if I remember correctly, if you need the latest Mac OS, it has been severely reduced in price. (I think $30 or so?)

And anyone who can lose things like a TV remote in 2 days...well... I don't even know how to answer that... :huh:
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: rockycoon on January 17, 2010, 11:26:35 pm
It's in the couch cusions....
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: ttwjr32 on January 18, 2010, 09:00:27 am
thanks vince and mustfocus  greatly apppreciated
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: mustfocus on January 18, 2010, 08:40:56 pm
So it worked for you?  Glad to hear it.
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Bee964 on March 09, 2010, 12:56:34 pm
Mustfocus,

I have been trying to find the discs here in florida for my parents computer but I don't think I am going to have any luck. I tried to put the characters on the computer here but they are not available. This is an HP  computer she bought new some 10 years ago. It is running XP. Were they not installed in the early versions of XP? I have my netbook with me. It is running XP. Can I use the XP discs from my netbook for the files?

Dave C
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Vince G on March 09, 2010, 09:05:28 pm
Dave, give it a try? Let me know.
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: mustfocus on March 09, 2010, 11:56:14 pm
Quote from: 'Bee964' pid='33667' dateline='1268157394'

Mustfocus,

I have been trying to find the discs here in florida for my parents computer but I don't think I am going to have any luck. I tried to put the characters on the computer here but they are not available. This is an HP  computer she bought new some 10 years ago. It is running XP. Were they not installed in the early versions of XP? I have my netbook with me. It is running XP. Can I use the XP discs from my netbook for the files?

Dave C


Netbooks in general don't come with install discs, so I'm not sure.  But you should be able to add the language information regardless.  Let me know when you have some time and we can try to connect and see what happens.
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Bee964 on March 10, 2010, 07:16:16 am
Guys,

When you bring up the box after clicking on regional languages the 2 boxes in supplemental language support are greyed ouy, you cannot check them. I also noticed it was missing the advanced tab. Just regional options and languages.

Mustfocus,

I'm retired, only 52 though, my days are pretty much open. I am free most of the time. Just let me know when you will have time. I have been checking around here for the discs. There are a couple others missing too. (scanner, printer instalation discs) My sister that passed away last year helped my mother buy this computer and set it up. Unfortunately I can't ask her where they are. My mother doesn't seem to remember and she is a stuffer. My net book came with product recovery discs. I have not found anything where you click to add and have the prompt come up to insert the discs.

Dave C
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Vince G on March 10, 2010, 07:22:41 am
On login screen, is there an administrator? You might have to (if you have the password) log as admin to add the language files?
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Bee964 on March 10, 2010, 07:26:48 am
Good point! there is a login screen. I'll try that.
That fixed it Vince, thanks again. I knew it would be something obvious that I have missed.

Dave C
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: mustfocus on March 10, 2010, 08:04:56 am
Vince beat me to it, but glad to hear you could do it. :icon_cheesygrin:
Title: RE: Adding the Chinese Font to your computer (Windows XP)
Post by: Bee964 on March 10, 2010, 08:31:58 am
Hey!!!  I have those little characters on here now. Time to get away from the computer for a while now. My mom and her friend want to go shopping and want me to take them. I am going to get a wireless router for here. I have never done one of those. Me thinks I will be back for help with that.

Dave C

I'm still gonna look for those discs too.