Korean Job Discussion Forums

[declan]

Hi..i bought a new Toshiba A60 laptop this week. The Windows version is in korean.

Does anybody know how to change the korean windows xp version into an english version??
Any help would be great..
Thanks

[kangnamdragon]

you can't..You have to buy the English version.

[declan]

Really- no way of doing that.

I should learn Korean then . What problems will i encounter with the korean version. Is it much different from the english version. Is it worth taking the laptop back and insisting on getting an english version...

[Swiss James]

it's very confusing, but I've gotten used to it at work. You have to know windows inside out and/or have a backup korean speaker.

If those dodgy guys still selling copied software in the tunnel between Sinyongsan station and the rest of the Yongsan market, then I heard from a friend of a friend that they might have english copies of Windows .

[mindmetoo]

Yeah basically there is no way.

The logic here is you can sell Windows XP in, say, thailand fixed for the thai language for half of what you'll sell it for in America (thai people or chinese or whatever can't possibly afford to pay what an american can afford to pay for his OS). If there was a magic button to switch languages, you could buy Thai Windows XP, reimport it into America, install it on your computers, and then simply switch the language to English.

[hari seldon]

If it was a desktop PC, then it would be a simple matter of swapping out operating systems, but unfortunately it's frequently not that simple with laptops. The manufacturer might be able to supply a system disk if a similar model is sold in the U.S. Of course, the other nuisance factor is the keyboard.

[Demophobe]

[mindmetoo]

I wish the mods would have some kind of sticky post about this. I see this sort of thing coming up every few months "I bought a laptop and now I can't figure out how to switch the language". I think this poor guy will have to go back and buy another copy of XP when he could have just said up front "install XP english instead". A sticky post might save a lot of people time, money, and grief.

If any mods are reading, I'd be happy to write a Buying a Laptop in Korea FAQ with certain tips.

Other things that crop up: Buy a laptop in Korea or bring one from home? Can I plug my laptop into one of those korean wall sockets?

[Sage Monkey]

[Demophobe]

Pretty wild how people go into a store and drop a pile of cash on a computer without even booting it up. I mean, you must not have booted it to see that the OS was in a language you can't use, or have great difficulty with. "Oh look....I can't make heads or tails of this menu. I want it!"

Come on folks....when you spend $2000....details! Makes me wonder what people generally know before they go shopping for computers. If you get burned on the OS....the thing you are looking at directly, I shudder to think of what you got burned on inside the box, the things you can't see at all.

Sticky? Ok....don't buy a computer with Windows in a language you don't know. There's some good advice.

Like I said before, Windows is tricky enough in your mother tongue.

As far as mods making stickys...well, there have been a few posts in the last 6 months that I would have done it with, but I seriously think the mods are out to lunch on this forum. They surf "off topic" and leave the geeks to sort out themselves.

I thought that my post on "Washing your Windows" ( http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=27521&highlight=washing+windows ) would have been a fine sticky (not just in itself, but also due to some of the great replies with incredible links and advice).

Oh well....sleep tight mods!

[hellofaniceguy]

Just get an English version operating system and install it. It will wipe out your hard.
I bought a Compaq notebook in korea...has korean OS...bought the windows xp pro English version...installed it and it's still running.

[Swiss James]

jeez instead of whining about the mods, why don't you PM one of them?

[the saint]

[declan]

Thanks for ur help.
First of all Declan is my real name, not my nickname... Im Irish.

I bought the laptop through the internet with the help of a korean friend who works for that company in korea. I asked for an english version windows xp but got a korean version..

I really believed that it would be no problem to change the language and as some of you have pointed out the korean version isnt a big problem anyway. I would just prefer an english version.

How much would a new windows xp version cost?. I have no idea about computers so instead of been smart with the replies just a simple answer would be great.

Also ive found out that it is possibe to change the language illegally and i have been approached about that by a number of people.. so its no great deal.

Thank you..

[Swiss James]

A dodgy CD of english windows XP would be around 20,000 won. Legit version, around 200,000 <I think>