Chinese Computing Setup Guide for Windows

Overview

The purpose of this guide is to provide information for those who are new to Chinese computing on how to enable Chinese language support on your device. After you successfully set up your device, you will be able to enter and display Chinese in web pages, office documents, file names, emails and etc. if they support Chinese characters. Note that the instructions in this guide focus only on GB encoded Chinese (simplified Chinese), similar steps are applicable to Big5 encoded (traditional Chinese).

Windows 10 & 8

Character Encoding

These versions of Windows have already had the language pack pre-installed.

Input Method Editor

1. Right click on Start Menu and click on Control Panel.
2. Click on Clock, Language, and Region, then click on Language.
3. Click on Add a language button.

4. Scroll down to locate and select Chinese (Simplified), then click on Open button.

5. Select Chinese (Simplified, China) and click on Add button to add a Pinyin keyboard for Simplified Chinese.

6. You will see a language icon appears on the system tray. Use the icon to switch between native and Chinese input method.

System Locale

1. Right click on Start Menu and click on Control Panel.
2. Click on Clock, Language, and Region, then click on Region.
3. Switch to Administrative tab and click on Change system locale... button under Language for non-Unicode programs section.

4. Scroll to locate and select Chinese (Simplified, China) from Current system locale drop down list, then click on OK button from Region Settings dialog box.

5. You will be prompted to restart your system. Click on Restart now from Change System Locale dialog box to complete the configuration.

Windows 7 & Vista

Character Encoding

These versions of Windows have already had the language pack pre-installed.

Input Method Editor

1. Go to Control Panel and click on Clock, Language, and Region, then click on Regional and Language Options.
2. Switch to Keyboards and Languages tab and click on Change keyboards... button under Keyboards and other input languages section.

3. Click on Add... button under Installed services section from Text Services and Input Languages dialog box.

4. Scroll down to locate and expand Chinese (Simplified, PRC), then Keyboard from the list.
• Windows 7 - Check on Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin New Experience Input St. to add a Pinyin keyboard for Simplified Chinese.
• Windows Vista - Check on Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin IME to add a Pinyin keyboard for Simplified Chinese.


5. Click on OK button and you will see a Pinyin keyboard has just been newly added to the Installed services section.

6. Click on OK button from the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box and a language icon will appear on taskbar. Use the icon to switch between native and Chinese input method.

System Locale

1. Go to Control Panel and click on Clock, Language, and Region, then click on Regional and Language Options.
2. Switch to Administrative tab and click on Change system locale... button under Language for non-Unicode programs section.

3. If you are prompted to grant system the permission for the amendment. Click on Continue button from User Account Control dialog box.

4. Scroll to locate and select Chinese (Simplified, PRC) from Current system locale drop down list, then click on OK button from Regional and Language Settings dialog box.

5. You will be prompted to restart your system. Click on Restart now from Change System Locale dialog box to complete the configuration.

Windows XP

Character Encoding

1. Go to Control Panel and double click on Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, then double click on Regional Options.
2. Switch to Languages tab and check on Install files for East Asian languages under Supplemental language support section.

3. Click on OK button from Install Supplemental Language Support dialog box
4. Click on OK button from Regional and Language Options dialog box.
5. If you are prompted for Windows XP installation disk, then click on OK button from Insert Disk dialog box; Insert the disk into disk tray and click on OK button from Files Needed dialog box once the drive is ready.
6. A Regional and Language Options dialog box will be popped up to show the progress while all necessary files are being copied.
7. After the installation is done, you will be prompted to restart your system. Click on Yes from Change Regional Options dialog box to complete the installation.

Input Method Editor

1. Go to Control Panel and double click on Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, then double click on Regional Options.
2. Switch to Languages tab and click on Details... button under Text services and input languages section.

3. Click on Add... button under Installed services section from Text Services and Input Languages dialog box.

4. Select Chinese (PRC) from Input language drop down list, then select Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin IME 3.0 from Keyboard layout/IME to add a Pinyin keyboard for Simplified Chinese.

5. Click on OK button and you will see a Pinyin keyboard has just been newly added to the Installed services section.

6. Click on OK button from the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box and a language icon will appear on taskbar. Use the icon to switch between native and Chinese input method.

System Locale

1. Go to Control Panel and double click on Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options, then double click on Regional Options.
2. Switch to Advanced tab and select Chinese (PRC) from drop down list under Language for non-Unicode programs section.

3. Click on OK button from Regional and Language Options dialog box.
4. If you are prompted for Windows XP installation disk, then click on OK button from Insert Disk dialog box; Insert the disk into disk tray and click on OK button from Files Needed dialog box once the drive is ready.
5. After the configuration is done, you will be prompted to restart your system. Click on Yes from Change Regional Options dialog box to complete the configuration.

Windows 2000

Character Encoding

1. Go to Control Panel and double click on Regional Options.
2. Scroll down and check on Simplified Chinese under Language settings for the system section.

3. Click on OK button from Regional Options dialog box.
4. If you are prompted for Windows 2000 installation disk, then click on OK button from Insert Disk dialog box; Insert the disk into disk tray and click on OK button from Files Needed dialog box once the drive is ready.
5. A dialog box will be popped up to show the progress while all necessary files are being copied.
6. After the installation is done, you will be prompted to restart your system. Click on Yes from Change Regional Options dialog box to complete the installation.

Input Method Editor

1. Go to Control Panel and double click on Regional Options.
2. Switch to Input Locales tab and click on Add... button under Installed input locales section.

3. Select Chinese (PRC) from Input locale drop down list, then select Chinese (Simplified) - MS-PinYin98 from Keyboard layout/IME to add a Pinyin keyboard for Simplified Chinese.

4. Click on OK button and you will see a Pinyin keyboard has just been newly added to the Installed input locales section.

5. Click on OK button from Regional Options dialog box, and a language icon will appear on system tray. Use the icon to switch between native and Chinese input method.

System Locale

1. Go to Control Panel and double click on Regional Options.
2. Click on Set default... button under Language settings for the system section.
3. Select Chinese (PRC) from drop down list from Select System Locale dialog box.

4. Click on OK button from the Select System Locale dialog box, and click on OK button from Regional Options dialog box.
5. If you are prompted for Windows 2000 installation disk, then click on OK button from Insert Disk dialog box; Insert the disk into disk tray and click on OK button from Files Needed dialog box once the drive is ready.
6. After the configuration is done, you will be prompted to restart your system. Click on Yes from Change Regional Options dialog box to complete the configuration.

See also

• Introduction to Chinese Computing Support