Region Problems: Language list empty

Herodias

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8
Dear all,

After upgrading Windows 8.1 I have a problem with my Region settings.
When going to Control Panel\Clock, Language and Region\Region > Format, I see that the drop-down list is empty, with only one exception: Spanish (Latin America).


I have refreshed my Operating System twice and re-install Windows 8, but after some updates, the system brings back this problem. This is particularly frustrating since I'm using an application that works directly with these settings (a translation memory).
I've tried installing languages packs but it does not work.

Is anybody else having this problem?
Do you know where this comes from?

If you do, I would be very grateful if you could help me out.

Thanks everybody for your time.

Have a great day,
Herodias
 
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Hello Herodias and welcome to the forum. How did you upgrade? Sounds like you upgraded with a specific language image.
 

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Hi Popeye,
Thank you for your answer.
In fact, Windows 8.1 came with the pc I bought on June, so it wasn't an upgrade.
It seems the problem comes when installing a set of updates (problem came back yesterday evening when 43 updates were installed in one go).
Do you think this issue is related to Windows 8.1?
How can I bring back the language list in Region?
Thank you for your help.
herodias
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
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    ASUS
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What is your Asus model? Where did you buy it? Is it (by any chance) a single language version of Windows you bought in Mexico or something?
 

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Hi!
It's an all-in-one ASUS ET23211.
I bought it in a wholeseller in France, that's why this is so weird.
And the version of the OS is not Single language, not that I know.
It's a regular 8.1.
Thank you for your help!
 

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  • OS
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You can check easily enough. Hit the :winkey: and R keys and then type winver then press enter. It will tell you if you have single language or 8.1 or 8.1 Pro. I think it is rather improbable that you would manage to buy a single language spanish language PC in France but you never know.

Next you can see if there is any corruption in the OS after the recent windows update. From elevated command prompt run these commands:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
and then
sfc /scannow


These will take a long time - wait for them to be finished.
More details of how to run them qre here:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/26512-dism-fixing-component-store-corruption-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.html

If that does not work (or you have errors on the above commqnds) then we will think some more...
 

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Hi adamf,

I followed your steps. Everything went fine. I have the log.
It said it found some files corrupted but that it had successfully repaired them.
However, when checking Region > Format, I still saw Spanish (Latin America) listed in the drop-down list.
See screenshot below:
Only_one_language.png

What can I do now?

Thank you so much for your help.

Herodias
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
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    Firefox
What do you have here?
 

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Hi adamf,

Here's the screenshot:
Language_control_panel.png

Thanks
 

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  • OS
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I'm only guessing here but what is that spanish option on United Kingdom? Click on Options on the left of the screen you posted.

If you have a PC bought in france you probably have an AZERTY keyboard so only want a french input method. If you have a UK keyboard then (probably) you only want UK english.

This is the screen I mean except I have a UK keyboard
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
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    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
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    Internal
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My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
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    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
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    Internal
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Hi adamf,

In fact, it's a bit more complicated than that: I'm Spanish living in France. I want my pc in English but my keyboard in Spanish International sort.

But I have the feeling that this part is not connected to the Format > Region screen, since no matter what I do here, the full list of languages does not show up: I tried installing the language packs and it didn't work. In fact, the only thing that works is refreshing Windows again. But the minute the updates are installed, then the whole problem comes back again and the languages in the list of Format > Region are gone.

I know it's a bit complicated, but the only thing that matters is that I use an application (a translation memory) that uses these settings in Windows to establish my working languages. Since the list is empty, the application won't work.

Thanks a lot
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
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Hi adamf,
I just saw your last post.
The first time I had this problem, the list was empty with only one exception: Spanish (Latin America)*
I re-installed Windows, as I said before: everthing went fine for a while until the pack of updates were installed. Then the problem came back, only that this time it said Spanish (Latin America) deprecated*.
I have no idea what it means, but it looks it must be a pretty rare issue, since nobody has heard of it in the translators forum either.
One quick question: do you think installing a brand-new version of Windows 8 or upgrade this version to, let's say, Windows 8.1 pro will fix this issue?

Thanks in advance
 

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  • OS
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Honestly I don't know. If I was in your position I would do a clean install of 8.1.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html and then
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

I don't think upgrading what you have to 8.1 Pro would help as it would only enable certain features which are already lying dormant in the installation you already have. It doesn't write over your current installation with fresh. You'd have to pay for it (but that is neither here nor there really) and I have a feeling you'd upgrade and then the issue would still be there as whatever is causing it would not be changed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
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Hi adamf,

I think that's what I'll do.
Thanks a lot for your kind help.

Have a nice day,
Herodias
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
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