changing a japanese x60 to english?

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nostriluu · #1 Post by **nostriluu** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:19 am

Hi all!

First of all, to introduce myself, I'm a long time computer user, starting with the VIC-20 all the way to this latest system, x60 type 1709-GDJ. I've always admired Thinkpads, but resisted until now, trying out a variety of small form factor, touch screen and Mac notebooks.

I had to buy a computer while traveling in Japan because of an unexpected work requirement. I found the x60 for a decent price "used" at Sofmap (a large computer retailer). I had done a bit of research and determined that 1) This was the quickest/lowest cost option for a good performance system 2) I could replace the keyboard with a US-English model down the road and 3) I could legally use the product key to reinstall an English version of Win-XP (I prefer Linux, but it appears some features, like suspending and external VGA, don't work well, still).

As is, I'm able to get my work done. The keyboard hasn't been too much of a problem. Down the road, the OS has me stumped.. has anyone gone through this, or have hints how I could install English XP? Do I need a specific version of Windows, or can I use the generic corporate install with my key? Note I don't have the X6 base and would prefer not to buy it.

Thanks for any help!

David

[b]MOD EDIT:[/b] Thread moved to X6x forum.

Jim K · #2 Post by **Jim K** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:17 pm

if you want to use your corporate version, you'll have to make sure you have the latest image of XP corp and then you'll have to go to Lenovo Thinkpad support and enter the model and type of your x60, and see if all the special drivers are available... things included but not limited to video driver, wireless card driver, chipset features drivers, function button drivers, on screen display of function buttons driver, trackpoint driver, etc... the XP corp install should get the basic laptop to work, then you'll have to install all the drivers you downloaded from Lenovo to get the features specific to the x60 to work. then, because you don't have a rescue and recovery partition or software (and even if you did) you should make an image or a clone of the harddrive in the x60, in case it ever crashes and you have to re-install everything.

you could also try calling Lenovo support and see if you could buy a rescue and recovery cd in english if you have a valid warranty for your machine... if you bought your machine second hand, you're probably out of luck trying to get the cd from Lenovo... if you can get the recovery disc from Lenovo, your corp key won't work, you need a key that comes with an x60 (on the bottom of the machine), but I don't know if the keys are specific for different languages- the key on your x60 may only allow a Japanese language version of XP to install.

#3 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:20 pm

Buying and installing the keyboard is the easy part. The OS is another matter. I am pretty sure you will have to buy the Full Retail version of Windows XP in english. This is unless you have the MUI version of Windows installed (probably unlikely). See following thread for more info on changing the OS.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=16644

nostriluu · #4 Post by **nostriluu** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:02 pm

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to mess around a bit more with this, repartitioning the drive and and trying one of the tricks for installing Windows from an existing partition. If that doesn't work, I guess I either learn Japanese

, sell this system on the way out of the country, or go through a lot of phone calls and installation pain (and perhaps buying a dock and new copy of XP... bleagh).

SHoTTa35 · #5 Post by **SHoTTa35** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:06 pm

as far as i know, all versions of XP come in English with the other languages attached ontop of it. So if it's Japanese you can change it back to english from the control panel. The Regional and Language thing should do it.

nostriluu · #6 Post by **nostriluu** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:19 pm

SHoTTa35 wrote:as far as i know, all versions of XP come in English with the other languages attached ontop of it. So if it's Japanese you can change it back to english from the control panel. The Regional and Language thing should do it.

I think this is only an option for the MUI version of Windows, which runs on English Windows only. I don't recall seeing it in the past on default XP (and I tend to explore options) and there doesn't seem to be any option in the Language option now (assuming "English" would show up in English).

SHoTTa35 · #7 Post by **SHoTTa35** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:25 pm

well maybe, but i know my friend's Toshiba came with German XP (along with the keyboard and all that) but there was the English option for the keyboard and for the OS.

Another guy that was staying with us from France had that too and there was definitely the "US English" option there too.

#8 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:58 pm

SHoTTa35 wrote:as far as i know, all versions of XP come in English with the other languages attached ontop of it. So if it's Japanese you can change it back to english from the control panel. The Regional and Language thing should do it.

Nope. Look at the links in the thread I posted above.

You can change the keyboard layout to another language, and type in another language, but all the OS dialog boxes and help files, etc. will remain in the installed language.

nostriluu · #9 Post by **nostriluu** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:26 pm

I was messing around in the Language options (which I shouldn't be doing, because I can easily get myself in an irreversible position, and the recovery tools are all Japanese...), and now tool tips and some utility programs are in English (all third party so far), but the main parts of the OS are not.

As everything is in Japanese it's hard to work my way through - I used Google translate to find the Japanese symbols for "English" but the rest is rather more difficult.

Further hints are appreciated!

Antioch · #10 Post by **Antioch** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:29 am

Heh - Why are you working in Japan if you can't speak Japanese?

I suppose it must feel daunting to try and figure out all of the "symbols" if you have no experience at it what-so-ever. But I will tell you that after you use the machine for a week you'll understand the gist of what it all means just by associative memory.

As far as the installation of English XP -- I don't think your key will work. Each OEM key actually has different parts that determine which region install it works on (if I recall correctly). So a Japanese key won't work on an English version. I think there is some file that you may be able to change to get this to work, I think I saw something about this around, but again, I don't remember. Anyways, it probably won't happen.

You can try and get the MUI (Multilingual User Interface) which changes the whole system completely to a different language (including english!). However, I think the boot menus and splash screen and other DOS based things will remain in Japanese, but that's probably not too important to you.

You can probably buy the MUI CDs on eBay or something for cheap.

Good luck!

nostriluu · #11 Post by **nostriluu** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:43 am

Antioch wrote:Heh - Why are you working in Japan if you can't speak Japanese?

I'm remote working, this was supposed to be a vacation, but work stormed in. At least I can still go for sushi at dinner!

Antioch wrote: I suppose it must feel daunting to try and figure out all of the "symbols" if you have no experience at it what-so-ever. But I will tell you that after you use the machine for a week you'll understand the gist of what it all means just by associative memory.

I agree, even though I've been using mostly Mac/Linux recently, I have enough Windows memories, and it's logical/the icons are good enough that I can work my way through -most- of it. But there are the occasional serious problems - error messages that I can't interpret, programs that won't install properly, etc.

Antioch wrote: As far as the installation of English XP -- I don't think your key will work. Each OEM key actually has different parts that determine which region install it works on (if I recall correctly). So a Japanese key won't work on an English version. I think there is some file that you may be able to change to get this to work, I think I saw something about this around, but again, I don't remember. Anyways, it probably won't happen.

Sorry to hear that. It's difficult to get a firm answer on this. Some responses to http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t5348.html seem to imply its possible. (if only there weren't so much ridiculous hassle over OS licensing.) I think I'll try Linux again, and installing with this key with a generic copy of XP when I have some free time.

Antioch wrote: You can try and get the MUI (Multilingual User Interface) which changes the whole system completely to a different language (including english!). However, I think the boot menus and splash screen and other DOS based things will remain in Japanese, but that's probably not too important to you.

Nope, that'd be kind of fun.

Antioch wrote: You can probably buy the MUI CDs on eBay or something for cheap.

Thanks, I will look around. Any Japanese x60 users want to trade keyboard/OS? (heh, I'm sure they exist, but...)

mazzinia · #12 Post by **mazzinia** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:35 am

Actually I've bought an X31 in Tokyo while I was staying there for a while, and was coming with a japanese os installed, obviously.
The easiest thing to change it has been getting english recovery cds, that incidentally don't require the key to be inserted.

Meanwhile for a week I've used it in japanese...

I don't know how is in Kyoto, but in Tokyo Thinkpad (and parts) prices (used) are a LOT lower than europe/us , especially including the currency conversion.
I would say that would be worth to look out for an Ultrabase and some other accessories....

nostriluu · #13 Post by **nostriluu** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:16 am

mazzinia wrote:Actually I've bought an X31 in Tokyo while I was staying there for a while, and was coming with a japanese os installed, obviously.
The easiest thing to change it has been getting english recovery cds, that incidentally don't require the key to be inserted.

I've been putting it off, but was planning to contact IBM, since they provide support for Thinkpads. I've been dreading the hoops the Japanese/Canadian/International offices of Lenovo, IBM and Microsoft are no doubt going to make me jump through.

But I've been thinking more of selling this x60 on the way out of Japan at the end of September. I'd prefer the tablet in the long run.

Know a place I call sell it for a good price? It still has Sofmap and Lenovo warranty.

mazzinia · #14 Post by **mazzinia** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:02 am

As an educated guess, I would say that selling it when back home would be the most profitable option (for sure if it has international warranty left) since I think you would be able to get more money than the one you used.

To sell it in Japan... mmm, sofmap is a good chain that can be found everywhere but reselling to them = getting less than you paid (even if it would be worth checking with a couple of different sofmap stores and hear how much they would offer... without saying that you bought from the same chain).
If you have an occasion to go to Tokyo, spending an half day in Akihabara would maybe be the best way to resell it to maximize the price (+ to get a good deal on a Tablet... I still remember a couple of shops, including one selling brand new closed boxes at good prices).

Other choices would be the local craigslist , a sayonara sale, or rakuten

Enjoy the food... I'm missing it a lot

Antioch · #15 Post by **Antioch** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:12 pm

I don't know. In my experience most electronics sell for the same amount in Japan as they do in the US (if not slightly more expensive in Japan). However, Japanese prices as compared to European prices are very cheap (which means buying in Japan, selling in Europe is profitable).

If I were you I'd sell it in Japan. You don't stand to make much profit at all by selling in America. You also may not even be able to sell it in America. Not many people are looking to buy a completely Japanese machine - and those that are (Japanese nationals) bring it with them when they come to America, or simply order one from overseas.

nostriluu · #16 Post by **nostriluu** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:28 am

Antoich, I agree it would be too much hassle for not much (if any) profit. This model sells new for $1700 in Canada. I will either sell it here via Craigslist or some online forum, or keep it, replace the keyboard, and work around the OS issues (Linux support seems better than I'd hoped, especially with the recent Lenovo blog posting on official Linux support, and upcoming pluggable displays... yay choice!).

mazzinia, yes, I am going to miss the food.. and many other things. Any recommendations for Tokyo?

RasmusP · #17 Post by **RasmusP** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:18 pm

You may install an English version of Windows and use the same license. Would you be able to run it from a USB stick? Just remember to include hdd drivers and network drives (fx using nlite).
The keyboard is not hard to replace either.

Cheers,
Rasmus

mazzinia · #18 Post by **mazzinia** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:23 pm

Tough question... I've always followed my "nose" (I got some cards somewhere, but I cannot read japanese... ).

Near Roppongi Hills there's a sushi place where you can pay a fix amount and eat as much as you want (should do also shabu shabu).

If you go to Jiyugaoka (from Shibuya, the line to go to Yokohama... just 10 minutes), there are a lot of good places to eat (ramen, etc. )

Ok, I'll check around if I manage to find some cards...

PS
If you like Macha ice cream... for sure the best part is in Shinjuku in the underground passages. There's a small tea shop near the only place to donate blood. It's really , really good

Antioch · #19 Post by **Antioch** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:38 pm

The train line he is referring to is the "Tokyu Toyoko line"　(東急東横線).

I can't really make too many suggestions because while I lived there (in a ritzy suburb of Shibuya: Komaba) I too followed my nose - but then again I could speak the language.

If you're looking for food you'll find good food at every major station: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Ikebukuro. However I'd have to say you have many more choices at Shinjuku and Ikebukuro because they're much larger than the other two.

Try going to the Edo-Tokyo museum if you're into that kind of thing. It's a nice place that walks you through the history of Tokyo. From it's roots, through WW2 up to present day.

nostriluu · #20 Post by **nostriluu** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:58 pm

RasmusP wrote:You may install an English version of Windows and use the same license. Would you be able to run it from a USB stick? Just remember to include hdd drivers and network drives (fx using nlite).

Thanks for this verification, Rasmus. I'll try to track down a copy of the right CDs when I get some time in October. I did try the product key with a generic corporate XP but it didn't work, so I assume it's a vendor thing.

There seem to be some tricky ways to install Windows without an optical drive, but I can borrow one from a friend.

mazzinia · #21 Post by **mazzinia** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:14 pm

The product key on the machine is for an OEM version of XP, so it'll never be accepted by a corporate one.

Ah, and also to the Meiji Jingu (Chiyoda line - Meiji Jingu station / Harajuku - JR Yamanote line), remembering to check also the side garden (the one you need to pay to go inside).

From there is walking distance to Shibuya, too, with the bonus of passing a lot of nice shops.

Ah, right... from Harajuku station, going down to Omotesando (so Shibuya direction), at the first big crossroad if you turn right you go to Shibuya. If you turn left, around 20/30 meters there's a chinese restaurant that should be quite good (always a lot of queue), specialized in desserts.

nostriluu · #22 Post by **nostriluu** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:22 pm

Thanks mazzinia! We're heading into the big city now, advice is appreciated.

mazzinia · #23 Post by **mazzinia** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 4:28 am

Enjoy

I can give directions to some good used pc shops, too

dougyyyyy · #24 Post by **dougyyyyy** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:34 pm

I have a similar problem with an x60 (no cd drive) that has a chinese version of windows that can not be read or essentially used at all. I have seen some stuff to load windows off usb but have not been able to get it to work. Any suggestions?

nostriluu · #25 Post by **nostriluu** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:56 pm

Just thought I'd update y'all.. I was fumbling along with my Japanese Windows XP computer, until I did something.. that make it stop booting. So I had no choice but to reinstall. I bought a USB optical drive from Best Buy (which I'm going to return.. I've bought enough stuff from them to not feel guilty), and installed English XP Corporate SP2 edition using a generated key. Then I ran Windows Update, which ran the validation tool and found my key to be ineligible. The Update site directed me to another program that let me enter a product key. I entered my original Japanese key and it worked! This is surprising since it wouldn't let me enter this key on install, only at this point.

So there is some reasonableness in the Windows universe, you just to steal a key first and buy and return a hardware device. Now I'm off to install Linoox, where the only key or extra hardware required is a USB key.

nostriluu · #26 Post by **nostriluu** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:21 pm

I should also mention that Thinkpad (IBM) support swore up and down that it was not possible to use my Japanese key with the English install. Thanks guys.

changing a japanese x60 to english?

changing a japanese x60 to english?

It worked!

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