Using Foreign Language Keyboards on Windows XP

1. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Regional and Language Options.
2. Select the Languages tab in this window and then select Details.
3. From the Settings tab, select Add
4. From the Add Input Language window, select the language of your choice from the Input Language pulldown menu and the proper keyboard layout from the Keyboard Layout pulldown menu. Warning: Some keyboards are not US-friendly. For example, if you're selecting French, use the French Canadian version instead of the French France version.
5. Click OK to return to the Input Languages window, and then select Preferences.
6. Select Language Bar under the Preferences heading in this window and make sure the "Show Language Bar on Desktop" button is checked.
7. Keep clicking OK until all windows are closed.
8. That's it. You should now see a little blue button like this somewhere on the taskbar on the bottom right of your desktop. Clicking on it will give you a list of all character sets installed. Select another installed language to begin typing in that new language.

Seeing Your New Foreign Language Keyboard on Windows XP

1. Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > On-Screen Keyboard.
2. In the On-Screen Keyboard, go to Settings > Font > and change the Font to Arial.
3. Now, change the Language Bar language to the Language you're trying to use, and click back on the On-Screen Keyboard window. This may take a couple of tries, but eventually, you should see the new Foreign Language keyboard layout displayed on the Onscreen Keyboard.

Handy Tip: