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Russian Version Of Windows OS
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Posted by: That1Guy

Tatiana has loaded a version of WinXP on her notebook, but does not have the disks. Does anyone know where I can get Windows XP with Russian interface? Oh, I could also use a Russian version of the Office suite. I have not found it online anywhere, but there is a site I found about Russifying windows - more than I want to bite off though.

Thanks in advance!

Guy

Posted by: OzGuyLooking

I think unless you order a Russian version of Windows Russian from a Microsoft reseller either in the US or from a reseller in Russia you are going to be stuck because the only other way is not legal.

Posted by: inlove

Quote:

Originally Posted by That1Guy

Tatiana has loaded a version of WinXP on her notebook, but does not have the disks. Does anyone know where I can get Windows XP with Russian interface? Oh, I could also use a Russian version of the Office suite. I have not found it online anywhere, but there is a site I found about Russifying windows - more than I want to bite off though.

Thanks in advance!

Guy

Hi Guy,
You don't need to use special russian version of Windows or Russian Office suite. All you need to do in order for her to be able to read and write Russian, is to add a second language to the settings of your existing windows. Look in the Control panel for languages and add Russian as a second language. It will allow you to switch between two languages. I believe russian comes standard with WinXP. Don't forget to change settings for the keyboard as well.

Posted by: searcher

inlove is correct.

We had a computer at work that somehow was switched to Russian. I wasn't around to see it but my coworkers were telling me about it. Luckily one supervisor here is from Armenia and reads Russian, she was able to tell my coworker how to switch Windows back into English.

No if Apple would just make a Russian language set for MacOS I would be doing great!

Posted by: That1Guy

Thanks for the replies,

Adding the Russian language via control panel adds the ability to type Cryllic characters, but does not change the interface. She has a version of XP and Office XP that has Russian interface and help. I have found some for sale, but the vendors are in Moscow. I am hoping to find it in the U.S.

Another program I'd really like to have the disk for is Magic Goody. It is easily the best machine translator I have found, and we use it almost daily. I have copied the setup program from her notebook and installed it on my desktop, but some of the dialogs do not display properly (series of question marks instead of words). I think this is likely because my version of windows is not Russian. Her notebook has some issues, and although I know how to image a drive for transfer to another computer, there is a chance that all programs wil not function, so I would really like to have a backup, and orginal disks are the best solution.

Posted by: That1Guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by searcher

inlove is correct.

We had a computer at work that somehow was switched to Russian. I wasn't around to see it but my coworkers were telling me about it. Luckily one supervisor here is from Armenia and reads Russian, she was able to tell my coworker how to switch Windows back into English.

No if Apple would just make a Russian language set for MacOS I would be doing great!

I did find a webpage describing how to "Russify" Windows, but it looked more involved that what I am prepared to tackle, and I am not sure how dated it was, so I opted not to do it.

Posted by: OzGuyLooking

Quote:

Originally Posted by That1Guy

Adding the Russian language via control panel adds the ability to type Cryllic characters, but does not change the interface. She has a version of XP and Office XP that has Russian interface and help. I have found some for sale, but the vendors are in Moscow. I am hoping to find it in the U.S.

Look it up on the net and try to get some part/order numbers so that when you go to the reseller you already have the correct version number to order in. My guess is they wouldn't be requested to order it in to often, if at all, so having the correct info at hand will help to make the supply quicker.

Posted by: searcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by That1Guy

I did find a webpage describing how to "Russify" Windows, but it looked more involved that what I am prepared to tackle, and I am not sure how dated it was, so I opted not to do it.

I can type and display cyrillic but I can not get the OS interface to display in Russian.

Posted by: That1Guy

I am not certain, but I think XP pro supports different languages. Maybe it's an installation option. I can download a multi-language user interface from Microsoft. I think this is designed to allow programs such as Office to display menus, dialogs, and help files in languages other than English. Still researching...

Posted by: AkMike

Have you done any looking for it at Ebay? They have alot of goodies there.

Posted by: That1Guy

Hi Mike,

Haven't tried yet..if I don't have any luck, I may well end up there..ya never know!

Thanks,
guy

Posted by: AkMike

IMO I'd start there for odd things like that.
I've been buying books in printed in Russian for Tanya there and there is a very large selection of all things russian!
Use the search engine!
And Good Luck!

Posted by: ConnerVT

It's all a bit complicated. Just depends how much you want.

A good explanation of it is here: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/home...or/index_en.htm

All (modern) versions of M$ Windows support Cyrillic text for input and output. If all you wish is to write a few emails in Russian, you can load a new keyboard language, a couple of fonts, and you are basically good to go.

The next step is to make Windows recognize Cyrillic file names, and put Russian language menus and dialog boxes on the screen. For that you need a couple of things: WinXP Pro, and the Russian MUI (Multi-language User Interface). This (and only this) combination allows (almost) all the menus and dialog boxes that M$ code generates to be presented in either English or Russian. There is also an Office MUI that transforms the Office suite of programs.

The final step is to make Russian the "native code" language of the Windows OS. For this, you need the Russian version of Windows XP. There are some programs (Prompt XT is one) that require this. Of course, if Russian isn't your language, installing and setting up a machine with this OS is not the most enjoyable experience. Plus, now some of your native English applications will no longer work.

I have the second option set up on this machine -- WinXP and Russian MUI. It is set up for two users (My wife and I) and two languages. When Natalya signs in, it is Russian. For me, English. In all, it has been rather trouble free.

Posted by: That1Guy

Hi Conner,

I was just gettting ready to post this information that it took me so long to find on Microsoft's site. I am going to look at your link now. From what I have learned, the only way to get the MUI is to order a new computer with XP Pro w/MUI pack. I have contacted Dell today regarding this possibility.

Thanks!

Guy

Posted by: That1Guy

I have found some windows OEM disks with the MUI for sale. (I think - the product headline says "W/MUI" but the product description doesn't mention anything about it.

Posted by: Khashyar

I know that computer stores or kiosks in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine sell all kinds of software, including windows, in the Russian language.

Perhaps Tatiana can ask her family to pick one up, or perhaps when she visits her family she can buy some Russian software there.

Khashyar

p.s., though, there is a chance that some of that software is pirated.

Posted by: ConnerVT

Probably one could find WinXP Pro (Corporate Edition, that doesn't require activation codes) and Russian MUI somewhere on the Internet, using one of those file sharing P2P programs (like Shareaza, Bittorrent, eMule, etc.). But those also would likely be pirated copies also...

(Of course, how could I know anything about this??)

Posted by: inlove

I, personally, don't understand why having russian interface is so important. Tatiana's knowledge of English is good enough to figure out windows commands. Besides, the more interaction with English language the better for the long run. And finally, you can help her out in a case of complete confusion..

Posted by: Wanderer

Quote:

Originally Posted by searcher

No if Apple would just make a Russian language set for MacOS I would be doing great!

There is! Look on apple.ru - it's all there and free! 10.4.5 it says but should work on 10.4.6

Wanderer

Posted by: ConnerVT

Quote:

Originally Posted by inlove

I, personally, don't understand why having russian interface is so important. Tatiana's knowledge of English is good enough to figure out windows commands. Besides, the more interaction with English language the better for the long run. And finally, you can help her out in a case of complete confusion..

Computers are the only machine that, by design, is personalized and modified to meet the needs of both the task and the user. No two computers are exactly alike, once they are taken out of the box and operated.

I think that having a Russian interface depends on the comfort level of the user. Even if I was able to use the Russian language interface each day (I can, for many things), I am more comfortable using English menus. Especially when using a new program or utility. I installed the Russian language interface for my wife to use, and I know she appreciates it, as it is more like the computer she used at work each day.

As far as troubleshooting problems, it does get to be a bit difficult at times, working in Russian. If all else fails, I can (temporarily) switch back to English. Most times, I work my way through it, from my knowledge of Windows, looking at icons, and asking Natalya for assistance.

Some applications (such as Microsoft Office) benefit with foreign language dictionaries and grammar checking included with the language interface. Other applications (those written with Russian native code) need the full Russian version of Windows installed.

Computers are suppose to make life easier. Why work exclusively in one language, when you do not need to?