How to Configure Windows 95 for Foreign Keyboard Layouts

If you are already familiar with the keyboard layout used in another country (or if you want to learn), you can configure Windows 95 to let you type using those keys rather than the standard American English keyboard. However, before you can type in Windows 95 using the keyboard layout of another country, you need to "Add" that keyboard to the list of keyboards currently available to Windows. Unless you have followed this procedure before, that list probably has only one item on it: "English (United States)."

Before you begin make sure you have your Windows 95 system software (either a CD-ROM or a bunch of floppy disks). You will be asked for this during this process.

To add a foreign keyboard to Windows 95:

• Step One: Open the "Keyboard" control panel. This can be found by clicking on "Start," then "Settings," then "Control Panel." When the Control Panel window opens, double click on "Keyboard."

• Step Two: At the top of the Keyboard window, click "Language" to see the language options, and then click "Add."

• Step Three: From the drop-down menu, choose the layout you wish to add. For example, if you wish to type in Spanish, choose "Spanish (Modern Sort)" from the list and click "OK" to return to the Language options menu.

Note that the default langauge is still English. If you wish to change it so that Windows automatically expects you to type in another language, click on that language in the list and click "Set as Default."

• Step Four: Click on the box marked "Enable indicator on taskbar" so that it is checked, and click "OK."

• Step Five: You will be asked to insert a Windows system disk from which the computer will copy information about the keyboard layout you have added. When this is complete, you can exit the Control Panel.

To switch between langauges:

• On the taskbar, you will see a new green icon (marked "En" for English, "Es" for Spanish, and so on). If you click on this icon, you will be given a list of choices of keyboard layouts. Click on the one you want to use.

• If other people will be using this computer, it is a good idea to set the keyboard back to English when you're finished.

Note: Information is not yet available regarding the exact layout of keyboards from other countries. It will be posted here in the future. If you are interested in obtaining this information, contact somone from the CTW Mellon Project.