Setting up Windows NT 4.0 for Multiple Languages

or how to answer questions in a language you don't read

Part 1: General rules

Windows NT 4.0 has features that allow multiple languages to run on the same machine. Unlike Windows 95, multilingual NT 4.0 is supported by Microsoft.

You will still need to move the Program Files directory, as explained in our multilingual Windows 95.

You might want to change your boot.ini file so that you can recognize which version of Windows NT you are booting. You will first need to remove the read-only attribute, and then edit the file. Change "Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.00" to something more descriptive like "English Windows NT WS 4.00". Later, when you have other version, you can specify the language by editing boot.ini again.

Part 2: Setup screens

Here is a list of the screens you can expect to see when installing Windows NT 4.0 in English.

When you are setting up Windows NT in a language you don't speak, you can use these screens to decode the messages shown to you during the install.

This list was created out of desperation after trying to load Japanese NT 4.0, and clobbering my English version because I didn't correctly guess the meaning of the text messages.

The good news was that I had an opportunity to write down all the screens as I reinstalled my English NT 4.0. The bad news was that I had to reinstall my English NT 4.0. You now get the benefit of the good news, and I hope to spare you the bad news!

Here are some tips for decoding the following:

1. Each numbered item is generally a separate screen.
2. My answers are marked with asterisks (*) in some cases. These are generally the "standard" answer, or the safest. In any case, I recommend you use the same responses. (However, some of the screens actually contain asterisks as a form of bullet.)
3. Items marked [MSG] indicate messages appearing on the line below the screen.
4. Your experience may vary from this, depending on your hardware.
5. On some screens I shortened the text and added an elipsis (...). The short version should be enough to recognize the screen.

Part 3: Text from the setup screens

1. Windows NT Setup

[msg]Setup is loading files (...)
2. Please insert the disk labeled #2

ENTER=Continue F3=Exit
Press ENTER
3. Blue screen "Service pack 1"


4. Windows NT Workstation Setup

The Setup program for the Microsoft(R) Windows NT(TM) operating system version 4.0 prepares Windows NT to run on your computer.
    * to learn about Windows NT press F1
* to set up now press Enter
* to repair a damaged setup press R
* to quit press F3
Press ENTER
5. Windows NT Workstation Setup

   Setup automatically detects floppy disk controllers and standard ESDI/IDE hard disks without user intervention. However, on some computers detection of certain other mass media storage devices, such as SCSI adapters and CD-ROM driver, can cause the computer to become unresponsive or to malfunction temporarily.

   For this reason you can bypass this automatic detection and manually select SCSI adaptors, CD-ROM drives, and special disk controllers (such as drive arrays) for installation.
   * To continue, press ENTER, and Setup will detect your drives
   * To skip mass storage detection, press S
Press ENTER
6. Windows NT Workstation Setup

Please insert the disk labeled>
Windows NT Workstation Setup Disk #3
into drive A:

Press Enter when ready
ENTER=Continue F3=Exit
Insert disk #3 and press ENTER
7. Windows NT Workstation Setup

Found: IDE...
Found: Adaptec...
The screen will pass automatically to the following screen.
8. Windows NT Workstation Setup

Setup has detected the following mass storage:
IDE CD-ROM (ATAPI 1.2)/PCI IDE Controller (depending on your computer)
Adaptec ...
    Etc,,,

* To specify additonal SCSI atapters, CD-ROM drives, or special disk controllers for use with Windows NT, including those for which you ahve a device support disk from a mass storage device manufacturer, press S.
* If you don't have any more, press ENTER
S=Specify Additonal device ENTER=Continue F3=Exit
Press ENTER
9. [msg] Loading device driver...
10. (If you have a large drive)Windows NT Workstation Setup
    Setup has determined that one or more of your hard disks has more than 1024 cylinders.
    Because MS-DOS is normally limited to 1024 cylinders per hard disk, some hard disk controllers offer special configurations.
    etc...
    etc...
    Press ENTER to continue
    Press ENTER
11. Japanese NT asked for the CD to be inserted (I think). Then it continued OK.
    
12. License agreement.
    PAGE DOWN = Next Page PAGE UP = Previous Page
    Press PAGE DOWN until you reach the bottom of the form.
    When you get to the bottom it says:
    F8 = I agree ESC = I don't agree PAGE UP = Previous Page
    Press F8
13. If there was already a version of NT on the machine, install asks about the current version.
    Setup has found Windows NT on your hard disk in the directory shown below.
    D:\USNT40 "Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00"
    Setup recommends upgrading this Windows NT installation to Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0. Upgrading will preserve user account and security information, user preferences, and other configuration information.
       * To upgrade Windows NT in the directory shown above, press ENTER.
       * To cancel upgrade and install a fresh copy of Windows NT, press N.
    Since you are trying to add a second version of NT, you want to press N (or whatever character is shown last in the second bullet item).
    F3=Exit   ENTER=Upgrade   N=New Version
    Press N
14. Setup has determined that you computer has the following elements:


Computer: Standard PC
Display: Auto Detect
Keyboard: XT, AT, or AT Enhanced (83-104 keys)
Keyboard layout: US
Pointing Device: Microsoft Serial Mouse

No changes: The above list matches my computer

If you want to change any item in the list, press the UP or DOWN ARROW key to move the highlight to the item you want to change. Then press ENTER to see alternatives for that item.

When all entries are correct, move the highlight to "The above matches my computer" and press ENTER.

ENTER=Select F3=Exit
Press ENTER
15. Windows NT Workstation Setup

The list below shows the existing partitions and space available for creating new partitions.
Use the up and down arrows to move the highlight to an item on the list.
* To install NT on the highlighted partition or unpartitioned space, press ENTER
* To create a partition in the unpartitioned space, press C.
* To delete the highlighted partition, press D

10990 MB Disk 0 at ID 0 on bus 0 on atapi (this will vary with the computer, of course)
    C: Fat                           1765 MB ( 364 MB free)
E: Fat
Unpartitioned space
Unpartitioned space
D: NTFS (NTFS Disk)             7319 MB ( 5316 MB free)

ENTER=Install   D=Delete Partition   F1=Help F3=Exit
Highlight NTFS and press ENTER
16. Windows NT Workstation Setup

Setup will install Windows NT on partition
E: NTFS (NTFS Disk)             7319 MB ( 5316 MB free)
on 10990 MB Disk 0 at ID 0 on bus 0 on atapi.

Select the type of file system you want on this partition from the list below. Use the up and down arrows to move the highlight to the selection you want, and then press ENTER.

If you want to select a different partition for Windows NT, press ESC.

Format the partition using the FAT file system.
Format the partition using the NTFS file system.
Leave the current file system intact (no changes).

ENTER=Continue ESC=Cancel
Press ENTER, assuming you want to install on the NTFS partition.
17. Windows NT Workstation Setup

Setup installs Windows NT files onto your hard disk. Choose the location where you want these files to be installed:
\WINNT
To change the suggested location, press the BACKSPACE key to delete characters and then type the directory where you want Windows NT installed.
This is the most critical step of all!
Change the directory to something descriptive, like JPNNT40. If you continue to use your current NT directory you will not be able to recover your current version.
Type the new directory name and press ENTER
18. Windows NT Workstation Setup

Setup will now examine your hard disks for corruption.
In addition to basic examination, setup can perform a more exhaustive secondary examination on some drives. This can take a long time.
* To allow setup to perform an exhaustive examination... press ENTER.
* To skip the exhaustive, press ESC.

We know your disk is OK, so press ESC!
19. Windows NT Workstation Setup

Please wait while setup examines your disk(s).
Please wait while setup copies your files...

20. Windows NT Workstation Setup

This portion of setup has completed successfully.
If there is a floppy disk inserted in drive A:, remove it. Also remove any compact disks from your CD-ROM drive(s).
Press ENTER to restart your computer.
When your computer restarts, Setup will continue.
ENTER=Restart Computer
Press ENTER
21. From now on, we are in GUI mode,
22. Windows NT Setup

Welcome to the Windows NT Setup Wizard, which will guide you through the rest of the Setup. To continue, click Next.
The next three parts of Setup are:
>1) Gathering information about your computer
2) Installing Windows NT Networking
3) Finishing Setup
Click on Next>.
23. (You may not see this dialog) Windows NT Setup

Please insert the compact disk labeled "..." in drive F.
You can also click "OK" if you want files copied from an alternative location.

24. (You may not see this dialog)Some files are needed

Insert the CD Rom
Buttons: OK, Cancel, Skip, Browse

25. (You may not see this dialog)Info 1,2,3



26. Setup options

    Typical *
Portable
Compact
Custom
Select the first item (typical) and click NEXT.
27. Name and organization



Enter the data and press Next>
28. (You may not be asked for the CD Key)
    CD Key ___-_______

Enter the data and press Next>
29. Computer name: NAME

Enter the data and press Next>
30. Administrator account

Password:
Confirm:
Enter the data and press Next>
31. Emergency repair disk

Yes *
No
Click the top radio button and Next>.
32. Windows NT components

Windows NT comes with a variety of optional components...
Some options require extra disk space and won't be installed unless you choose them from the list.
Click the option you want, then click Next.
Install the most common components (recommended)
Show me the list
Leave the default checked and click Next>
33. Windows NT Setup
Setup is now ready to guide you through installation of Windows NT Networking. If you want to review or change any setting before continuing, click Back.
To begin installing Windows NT Networking, click Next.
1) Gathering information about your computer
>2) Installing Windows NT Networking
3) Finishing Setup
Click on Next>
34. Windows NT Workstation Setup

Windows needs to know how this computer should participate on a network.
Do not connect this computer to a network at this time.
This computer will participate on a network.
Wired to the network
Remote access to the network.
(Setup won't find the right adapter, so the best option is to set it up later).
Click on the top radio button and Next>.
35. Windows NT Setup
Setup is now ready to guide you through installation of Windows NT Networking. If you want to review or change any setting before continuing, click Back.
To begin installing Windows NT Networking, click Next.
1) Gathering information about your computer
2) Installing Windows NT Networking
>3) Finishing Setup
Click on Next>
36. Calendar

Comments:
1. The check box on the bottom of this dialog says "Automatically adjust clock for daylight savings time." If you have a multiboot system, you only want one of them resetting the clock for daylight savings time. Otherwise your clock will be reset by each version you have. Uncheck the check box.
2. On most language versions of Windows NT, you cannot click on the map to select your time zone.
3. For the East Coast of the US, select GMT-5, using the drop-down list. The choices for GMT-5 are:
• (GMT-05:00) Bogota, Lima
• (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time(US & Canada)
• (GMT-05:00) Indiana (East)

Click Close (the left-hand button).
37. Detected Display

The system found the following video adapter in your machine:
vga compatible display adapter
Use the controls to select the size and number of colors for your display. Then use the Test button to preview those settings.
Press OK
38. Display Properties Dialog

Buttons:
  List All Modes, Test, Display Type
  OK, Cancel, Apply
Just accept the defaults, and update the display when NT is running.
If you really can't stand 640 x 480 resolution, select 800 x 600, test it using the middle button with the "(E)" shortcut, and accept the default dialogs.
When you're done, select the button on the lower left.
39. Label a floppy disk "Emergency Repair Disk" and insert.

Press OK (the button on the left)
40. Setup

Windows NT repair information contains security sensitive data. Please ensure that the emergency repair disk you just created is stored in a safe place accessible only to adnministrators of this system.
Press OK
41. Windows NT Setup

Windows NT 4.00 has been installed successfully.
Remove disks from floppy drivers and compact disks from CD-ROM drives and choose Restart Computer.
Press Restart Computer (the huge icon).
42. Clean-up

Now that you have installed Windows NT, you will need to update the display, networking, and perhaps other items.
The good news is that you can use screen shots from your English (or other native) OS as a guide to the localized version. With the exception of Arabic and Hebrew, the layout of dialog boxes is usually identical for all versions of Windows NT. For Arabic and Hebrew, the dialogs should have their buttons reversed in order to match the right-to-left styles of those languages. Unfortunately not ALL dialogs are completely localized.

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Coping with a new language

Here are some suggestions for coping with instructions in a language you don't understand:

• A good memory will help you recognize the dialog boxes, but the best solution is to have screen shots of the various dialog boxes in English.
• You can create your own catalog of screen shots in Microsoft Word or other Windows word processors, by using ALT PrintScrn to capture each dialog box in your English system, and then pasting that image into your document. Such a list of dialog boxes comes in handy and saves untold time and misery.
• Remember that Middle-Eastern languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi) will usually have the buttons reversed right to left. For this reason you may need see which button is highlighted by default.
• Most Far Eastern languages offer hints with their menu items, because it is impossible to designate a double-byte character as an accelerator key. For example, the file dialog will contain XXXXS where XXXX is a pictogram, and S is the accelerator for &quotsave".
• Another resource is the glossaries supplied by Microsoft, usually on the first international CD. One of the glossaries is for Windows 95, and you can view it in Excel or Word, after a little reformatting.
• One of the most difficult installations is Hebrew Windows 95, because it combines &quotmostly" right-to-left dialog boxes (it would be easier if all were right-to-left), none of the English accelerators mentioned above, and a very thoroughly localized user interface. For Hebrew, I recommend printing a short glossary with the most commonly used dialog items (OK, yes, no, cancel, back up, shut down, reboot).

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Changing keyboard defaults

During the installation process (i.e. before you have a language-switching icon), you might discover that the keyboard has defaulted to the new language. For Russian other non-Latin languages, this can be catastrophic, because you can't enter any English characters.

Here are some hints for switching keyboards during installation:

• Try holding down both Right-ALT (ALT GR) and shift, and see if that changes the default to English.
• Try Right-ALT "`" (the backward apostrophe)
• If all else fails, just type a few random characters and repair the settings later when you have managed to switch the keyboard to English.

After Windows 95 is installed, you can change the keyboard simply by clicking on the blue icon on the lower right corner of your screen. For Russian/English, for example, you should see Ru/En. Click on the En to switch to an English keyboard.

To change the keyboard default, select Start->Settings->Control Panel, and click on the Regional Settings icon (a plain blue world). Then click on the right-most tab for the "Input Locales", and select "EN English(United States)". This will be in some other language, of course. Then press "Set as default", which is the button just below the three other buttons. While you are there, look at the three radio buttons which define the key sequence to switch languages.