Windows 2000 Language Question

[Sam]

We have an A21p which came factory loaded with Windows 2000.

We are donating this notebook to a family that speaks Spanish, and i'm wondering how we can change the default language to Spanish.

We do not have the Windows 2000 CD that came with it, nor do we wish to reinstall Windows 2000 and all the applications that are currently installed.

We've downloaded MUISETUP.EXE (for XP) which launches fine on W2K, but the only language option it gives me is English.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, as this family has no computer and they have a great need for it, but no money.

Muchas Gracias,

Sam

[A31]

I think I am right in saying that to convert Windows 2000 from English to Spanish, you will need a Spanish Windows 2000 installation CD and you'll have to (annoyingly) format your disk and reinstall W2K.

I have Windows 2000 Professional in VMware right now and I've had a look in the regional options etc, selected the 'locale' as Spanish and then looked in the languages available and Spanish didn't come up...

I may be wrong, but I think that is the only way...

[RealBlackStuff]

AFAIK you can just reinstall W2K in Spanish over the existing English W2K.
That way you'll keep all the other programs.
If you need Spanish versions of those other programs too, you need to reinstall them in Spanish as well, no avoiding it.
If these people you want to give it to are in the US, they should have enough basic English to manage such a mixed environment.

[Sam]

Great ideas. Since a different Windows CD than the one that the computer was built with (IBM has that), we'll see if my product key will allow a lay-over install...

[Sam]

If these people you want to give it to are in the US, they should have enough basic English to manage such a mixed environment.

Yeah, if only that were the case. The family i'm talking about, we met while on vacation in Mexico, where they plan to continue their residence. The mother speaks English quite well, while the father who is an account, and the two children (who need the computer the most) speak zero English, but hope to learn some day. This computer delivered in English could be the catalyst for learning, but it could also be a detriment...

[GomJabbar]

I split the sarcastic posts out of this thread. Please keep the thread on topic.

[A31]

If your Win 2K has an I386 folder in the C:\ drive, then click on it (the I386 folder), then scroll down to 'winnt32.exe' and click on it, then you can install Windows 2000 without the CD. If not, then you'll need a Windows 2000 CD - you can get them from ebay for quite cheap now though, and some include SP4.