You have to explain this better before somebody can figure out what the soluton is. What control panel? Where do you see "set program access and defaults"...?
Thanks for responding I will try to be more specific. When I go into the start menu, where it should say help and support, it is written in arabic script. The same problem persist when I open up all programs, where set program access and defaults was once written in english, now arabic. These are the only places where there is arabic script. I have opened regional and language in control panel, and it is set to english.
If this just started, try doing a System Restore to latest date available when it was still speaking English, assuming you can find the right links in Arabic:
click start>help&support
click "undo changes..."
follow prompts and pick latest date available when you know it was ok.
Personal files will be ok but any software or XP updates originally installed after the restore date have to be reinstalled.
If that doesn't do it, open Regional and Languages control panel. You have to make the changes on all 3 tabs. On Languages tab, you have to click Details button. Make sure it's set to correct language at the top and then make sure the correct keyboard is selected in the box below. Click OK back to desktop and reboot.
I tried both options. Ist option computer restore not working. Cant find restore point. Message reads cannot restore to this date. Choose another. 2nd option has no effect. Additionally written in arabic cant tell what I m doing.
Is everything in Arabic or just Start menu? Have you defined a custom 'theme' in the Start menu? If so, open Display control panel and change the theme from whatever is currently being used to something else, maybe either XP standard or Classic. Reboot.
If that doesn't help, try booting in Safe Mode (F8 before XP starts to load), or choose Last Known Good from that F8 list if Safe Mode doesn't help.
You may end up having to do Repair/Reinstall of XP. Your personal files won't be lost but always good to back to CD up first. Boot from XP CD and press Enter at first screen (not R). You should see XP user license appear. Then follow the prompts to do the Repair/Reinstall. You will have to reinstall all XP updates and hotfixes after the Repair.
in start menu under set program access and defaults, and also in add remove programs, program access defaults in there as well. These are the two places only
It may be necessary to rename the existing template files listed for your version of Windows at this link, first, without deleting them -just in case. Then install the new ones using the download. If that works you can delete the old files.
Suggest you also scan for malware using Ad-aware, Spybot, Windows Defender, etc too.
Could you please let the forum know how the Arabic got on the computer in the first place? Was it installed through Control Panel | Regional and Language Settings? If not how long after you bought it did it start to produce arabic?
I ask this as a friend overseas has started suffering from the same problem; his computer was purchased in Saudi Arabia and was OK for about a year. It then took to appearing in arabic as you descibe.
Message Edited by Delierious on 12-05-200607:04 PM
I saw a post on an obscure forum saying that 'strange languages' suddenly started appearing on screens where program access and permissions are required. That sounds very similar to this problem because OP here says Arabic appears on Set Program Access and in the Add/Remove control panel. Both are places requiring Administrator privileges.
The solution was to go to link in my previous post and download the correct templates for the version of Windows on the system. Then remove (or rename) the existing corrupted templates, and run the .msi downloaded from the MS site to install the templates again.
No warranties expressed or implied; past performance is no guarantee of future results and all that legal stuff... ;)
Here's post that led me to suggest the administrative templates are corrupted:
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-2464728.php
Here are some other reasons for Arabic appearing, and different solutions than the one I originally suggested. The file Mfc40loc.dll referenced is part of Front Page:
http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1303247&page=9
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/194447
And another here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887591/en-us?spid=3220&sid=353
Thanks for tjhe help. I am very grateful for your and other community members solutions. I attempted several, yet could not find a solution. I contacted dell customer support, and after working with the consultant for 2.5 hours, came to the conclusion a virus was probably implanted in the OS. I ended up backing up all my files on CD, and Ctrl F11 to original manufacturer settings. I have been spending all night reinstalling software. Very frustrating to get this type of virus or trojan that corrupts OS files. Anyways to answer some other members Q's, I bought this computer directly from dell and am not aware of it ever being assembled or purchased in the middle east. Very odd how it only affected certain parts of control panel. I hope if anyone else should encounter this problem, they are able to purge it out. Microtrend live scan, Microsoft defender, none helped, but did ID Spyware, 1 virus, and trojan. I guess no systems malware removal, and firewall are 100% secure
After you're finishing installing software, get your firewall and antiviral running and go directly to MS update site to download and install all the updates and fixes, before reading email or surfing.
RoHe
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December 4th, 2006 02:00
Ron
DavidMir
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December 4th, 2006 15:00
RoHe
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December 4th, 2006 17:00
click start>help&support
click "undo changes..."
follow prompts and pick latest date available when you know it was ok.
Personal files will be ok but any software or XP updates originally installed after the restore date have to be reinstalled.
If that doesn't do it, open Regional and Languages control panel. You have to make the changes on all 3 tabs. On Languages tab, you have to click Details button. Make sure it's set to correct language at the top and then make sure the correct keyboard is selected in the box below. Click OK back to desktop and reboot.
Ron
Message Edited by RoHe on 12-04-200611:02 AM
DavidMir
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December 4th, 2006 21:00
RoHe
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December 5th, 2006 17:00
If that doesn't help, try booting in Safe Mode (F8 before XP starts to load), or choose Last Known Good from that F8 list if Safe Mode doesn't help.
You may end up having to do Repair/Reinstall of XP. Your personal files won't be lost but always good to back to CD up first. Boot from XP CD and press Enter at first screen (not R). You should see XP user license appear. Then follow the prompts to do the Repair/Reinstall. You will have to reinstall all XP updates and hotfixes after the Repair.
Unless somebody's got a better idea...
Ron
DavidMir
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December 5th, 2006 20:00
RoHe
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December 5th, 2006 22:00
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=92759D4B-7112-4B6C-AD4A-BBF3802A5C9B&displaylang=en
It may be necessary to rename the existing template files listed for your version of Windows at this link, first, without deleting them -just in case. Then install the new ones using the download. If that works you can delete the old files.
Suggest you also scan for malware using Ad-aware, Spybot, Windows Defender, etc too.
Ron
Delierious
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December 5th, 2006 23:00
I ask this as a friend overseas has started suffering from the same problem; his computer was purchased in Saudi Arabia and was OK for about a year. It then took to appearing in arabic as you descibe.
Message Edited by Delierious on 12-05-200607:04 PM
RoHe
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December 6th, 2006 03:00
The solution was to go to link in my previous post and download the correct templates for the version of Windows on the system. Then remove (or rename) the existing corrupted templates, and run the .msi downloaded from the MS site to install the templates again.
No warranties expressed or implied; past performance is no guarantee of future results and all that legal stuff... ;)
Ron
RoHe
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45.2K Posts
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December 6th, 2006 03:00
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-2464728.php
Here are some other reasons for Arabic appearing, and different solutions than the one I originally suggested. The file Mfc40loc.dll referenced is part of Front Page:
http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1303247&page=9
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/194447
And another here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887591/en-us?spid=3220&sid=353
I hope it's not contagious!
再見
DavidMir
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December 6th, 2006 04:00
DavidMir
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December 6th, 2006 04:00
RoHe
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December 6th, 2006 15:00
Good luck!
Ron
Message Edited by RoHe on 12-06-200609:32 AM
DavidMir
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December 6th, 2006 15:00