Language Packs can be used to change most of the Windows Vista user interface into Chinese, including menus, dialogs and basic help screens. They are included with the high-end personal and corporate versions of Vista: Vista Ultimate and Vista Enterprise. Also known as "Multilingual User Interface Packs", or MUI, Language Packs will be some of the first free optional updates you will see the first time you run Windows Update.

Language Packs do not do many of the things people often think they do, as I'll explain in a moment. But first, following is a side-by-side comparison of the Internet Explorer "Page" menu in the traditional and simplified Chinese Language Packs:

What They Do Not Do

Vista Language Packs have nothing to do with the Chinese reading and writing features discussed elsewhere on this site.

They only change the interface. You don't even need them to display Chinese filenames; you should already be able to do this in any version of Vista except Starter. (Many people are confused about this, including apparently some Microsoft support people...)

Vista Language Packs change only the system and Internet Explorer. They have no effect on any other individual applications.

Language Packs for MS Office (Word, Excel, etc.) must be purchased separately in Traditional, Simplified or Pan-Chinese versions. Other applications may require a completely separate installation for each language version. Vista Language Packs affect only Vista.

Still, it's nice to get even this much included in the price. To get the same features for my last system I had to purchase a special multilingual version of XP. With Vista Ultimate or Vista Enterprise, Language Packs are available as free downloads.

Installation

The download and installation process can take up the better part of an hour at least, even on a high-speed connection. Although it is possible to download first and install later (using an install button you'll find in the Regional and Languages Control Panel), the process defaults to downloading and installing all at once. You might as well get all of this done in one session, when you can part with your PC for awhile. I suggest you just start the process and go off to have a nice cup of tea or something.

To get started, run Windows Update (Start > All Programs > Windows Update, or Start > Control Panel > Windows Update) and you'll find all the available Language Packs listed as optional updates. Select the checkboxes next to the packs you want, click the "Install" button, and let it run.

Your may find the "Chinese (Traditional)" pack listed as the "Chinese (Hong Kong SAR) Language Pack". This was fixed via an update released in 2007, which will be offered to you by Windows Update if your system requires it. Even after installing that update, you may still see this pack listed in the Update window as "Hong Kong SAR" anyway. Don't worry, just go ahead and download it. During installation and actual use, you'll see it identified in Chinese as "Chinese (Traditional)".

Optional: Some people have asked me how to hide the Language Packs for other languages, so that these downloads do not appear every time Windows Update is run. This is simple but requires that you right-click on each pack and select "Hide update" one at a time. You can bring these back by clicking "Restore hidden updates" in the left column of Windows Update at anytime in the future.

 

Switching Languages

Switching between languages is also a simple process, involving our old friend the Regional and Language Options Control Panel where you will now find a new pull-down menu:

After you select a display language and click "OK", a dialog will ask you to log out and log back in to complete the change. You do not need to restart.

I hope this has been helpful. Feel free to write to me via the "Contact" link below if you have any questions or suggestions.