Chinese Computing Help Desk

User-friendly advice on MS Windows 7 / Vista / XP and Ubuntu Linux Chinese setup, Pinyin and Zhuyin input methods (IME), Chinese fonts and Language Packs (MUI), plus Pinyin macros, a survey of third-party Chinese software, FAQs & more.

Welcome! This site is all about helping you read and write Chinese using your Western-language computer system, with a focus on Pinyin input methods. My goal is to make this as accessible as possible to the non-technical, non-specialist, non-native speaker. I can't guarantee I'll respond with any degree of expertise (I'm just a waiguoren after all) but please feel free to contact me via the "About" menu above if you have any questions.

Windows 7 Chinese Features

When Microsoft introduced the first "Start" button with Windows 95, they licensed the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" for their advertising. Someone there was apparently oblivious to the irony of using a song that repeatedly screams "You make a grown man cry"...

Windows 7 goes a long way towards reducing the tears. It combines the updated Chinese features and fonts introduced in Vista with improvements to the system that make it slimmer, faster, more stable and more friendly than Vista. I will "start you up" with Windows 7 Chinese features and setup info here.

Scenic Asian Wallpaper

Some great new wallpaper is included in the Asian versions of Windows 7, and I've found the files for you.

Nice widescreen shots of mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and India suitable for screensavers or backgrounds in any version of Windows or other OS.

You can download all the scenic Asian wallpaper here.

常見問題: Frequently Asked Questions

Visit the frequently asked questions index, and you'll know you're not alone. Latest FAQs:

Updated: Ubuntu 9.10 & 9.04 Chinese Setup

Ubuntu Desktop and the Ubuntu Netbook Remix are free, friendly and graphical. Installing Chinese in Ubuntu no longer requires you to type in Linux commands. Learn how to install Chinese iBus/SCIM input methods and Chinese fonts, use Chinese in OpenOffice.org, and set preferences.

Apple Macintosh Chinese Support

I'm often asked why I don't offer Chinese Mac support here, other than my Pinyin macro for Word and Excel. The easy, more-stylish-and-black-turtleneck-than-thou answer would be that "Macs don't need as much support". Well, maybe. But actually it's because there is already excellent English-language help out there:

下载免费更新微软拼音输入法2007 • Download the Free MSPY2007 IME Update from Microsoft!

Everyone with Windows XP should install Microsoft's free update for the PRC and Taiwan Pinyin IMEs. Every XP, Vista or Win7 owner with broken Chinese features should also try installing this. It adds the latest Vista/Win7 IME features to XP, and even adds a few minor new features to Vista and Windows 7. Here is the FAQ on the MSPY 2007 download and installation instructions.

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