Ok so here's a problem, following the advice on AJATT i've decided to switch from using an english version of Windows to a Japanese version, although the Retail version of vista I have does not allow you to change the UI langage during install, so I phoned microsoft to ask if they would kindly send me a Japanese version of the operating system I paid for (with money!) and I'd foot the postage cost, they disagreed.

They said they can't do that, if I wanted the japanese version I should have imported it when i bought the operating system, I asked why I should have to pay twice for the operating system, OSX allows you to change the UI langage and costs 1/3rd of what i paid for Vista. So I basically I told them if they wouldn't send me an OEM version with Japanese UI support I'd "source" my own copy since I have the right to do so and shouldn't have to pay twice for the same operating system, they seemed fine with the idea and the lady on the phone said it would be my only option, it's not piracy I'm using the license I got with my disk on the exact same OS just in a different language.

I now have vista on a nice newly formatted hard drive and I'm having no problems navigating the UI, i like how "Device" is in Katakana デビス.

Evil microsoft.

I'm surprised that your licence is valid for a copy in a different language. Somehow I imagined Microsoft would make it not validate, hence trying to force you to buy another license.

I have wondered why you can't just change the language, even if it did involved downloading something to save space on the CD/DVD/HD...

Yea, I'm pretty surprised too. I would think they'd be completely different licenses.

One reason they're not sold with all the languages available on the disc is to control the prices and prevent sale outside of the intended country, just like video games and DVDs.

I think the burning question is: why would you purchase the retail version of Vista?

Actually it didn't accept the license but i've paid for one so why shouldn't it, regional restrictions of course, I bought the retail version because when i was out buying a new CPU vista had just came out so i picked it up not thinking i could get it OEM cheaper.

@Mightmatt: you can change the UI langage but not to japanese it has to be a subset of the OS's "Parent Language", so in other words it has to be a language that uses the latin alphabet.

You could also look around for an "MUI" (Multilanguage User Interface). That was my solution when I set up computers for foreign students back in college. I think I read that they relaxed MUI distribution. It used to be a bit of a pain to find one.

While you are morally in the right, I wouldn't go as far as saying you are legally allowed to do that (aka it is piracy). It is MS' point of view that you license the software, you don't buy it. The license you bought/received was for the exact edition you got. The MS rep on the phone either didn't get what you meant by "source your own", or didn't particularly care what you do since they get paid minimal wages to talk on a phone.

I'm still confused about why you bought Vista. Did your "new CPU" (I assume that means new computer) not come with an OS?

Looks like Vista isn't being received too well and many manufacturers are giving customers the option to "downgrade" to XP:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/micro...ngrade-to/

JimmySeal Wrote:I think the burning question is: why would you purchase the retail version of Vista?

Aye. Wear an eyepatch for nightvision, why don't you? Er, I mean, yeah, OEM all the way. Why pay a hundred bucks for a pretty box?

dilandau23 Wrote:You could also look around for an "MUI" (Multilanguage User Interface).

Vista does have these, but you need Ultimate to access them, and they're only available in terribly obscure languages (like, languages with names I'm not sure how to pronounce).

EDIT: I did a search for MUI's and they do exist for mainstream languages, but I can't find legitimate ways to acquire them, although I can't say the same for the opposite.

I recall looking into changing the language of Windows (quite frankly, I could change XP into Russian and I would still be just fine), but couldn't find anything as to how to do short of actually using a Japanese install.

Vista is pretty awesome: once SP1 comes out circa November (I believe), the question of efficiency should go away. Remember, software that needs better hardware is one main reasons manufacturers take the time to make better hardware.

dilandau23 Wrote:You could also look around for an "MUI" (Multilanguage User Interface).

Megaqwerty Wrote:Vista does have these, but you need Ultimate to access them, and they're only available in terribly obscure languages

I'm not sure what you mean by obscure. I have Vista Ultimate and getting the Japanese MUI installed was as simple as visiting Windows Update.