How do I display Unicode?

Question

I recently had to have a new hard drive put into my laptop. My other one was corrupt. Well, the problem is that when I got it from the repair store, it was a bare computer with nothing installed. My problem is, now on a lot of websites, I cannot see most Unicode symbols. I used to see them with no problem. But now they look like two small numbers inside a tiny box. Which I guess is the actually coding instead of the symbol itself.

I found a site that directed me to the Regional Options in the Control Panel. But when I tried to do it, it asked for my Windows XP CD. Which I do not have.

So, my question is.....is there a way around this annoyance? Or am I stuck in this non Unicode world forever?

Thanks

Answer 1

Some symbols may not show because your computer does not contain the font set and/or your browser is not set to the correct Character Encoding. Changing browser's encoding is usually done from its View Menu.



If you see squares or question marks instead of the symbol you need to make sure you have the language pack installed necessary to show the symbols.



Installing Windows XP Language Packs:



(depending on the version of XP you have, you may need to insert your WINDOWS XP SETUP CD) then go to Control Panel >> Add/Remove Programs >> Windows Components scroll down in the list and put a checkmark next to “language packs”. If you cant find that, then go here instead Control Panel >> Regional and Language Options >> Languages then made sure both boxes under Supplemental Language Support are checked. Click NEXT and then let it do its thing. You will probably then have to reboot.



Enabling International Support in Windows XP/Server 2003 Family: http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/handson/user/xpintlsupp.mspx

How to Configure Regional and Language Support for User Accounts: https://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/reginalsup.mspx



Vista:



Install a display language: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/4a90fe71-cca6-4965-ab39-97f92ca1a03f1033.mspx

Windows Vista Ultimate language pack release information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925471

Installing Language Interface Packs: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766278(WS.10).aspx



Win 7 Language pack:



How to easily download and install Windows 7 Language Packs (MUI packs): http://windows7center.com/tutorials/how-to-download-and-install-windows-7-beta-language-packs-mui-packs/

Windows 7 RTM Language Packs now available via Windows Update: http://windows7center.com/news/windows-7-rtm-language-packs-now-available-via-windows-update/



How do I get additional language files?: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/How-do-I-get-additional-language-files



Ron

Answer 2

Language packs have NOTHING at all to do with it. People who have not fooled with this at all have no problems in seeing other characters.



If you have fonts with the characters you require, then you should be able to see them. Note that almost no-one can see all the characters. Some of the new characters in Unicode 5.2 are not listed as yet being in ANY fonts.

For example, for the Peace Sign, see http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/262e/index.htm . Click on “Fonts That Support U+262E. This will bring up a page listing a number of common fonts and a click-able phrase “Local Font List”. Click it and the peace sign character will be shown as it appears in all your fonts. If none of them show it properly, then download one that will. See http://www.alanwood.net/unicode/fontsbyrange.html for a number of free or low-cost fonts.



You can use http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/search.htm to locate any character. Paste the character or its hex number or its decimal number or part of its name in the Query box.



It is quite possible the some of your fonts are now missing. For symbols in general, I recommend the free Symbola font from http://users.teilar.gr/~g1951d/ . Download and install it. I also recommend the free DejaVu fonts from http://dejavu-fonts.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page . These should get you started. For other free or low-cost fonts see http://www.alanwood.net/unicode/fonts.html .



Note that despite the dishonest suggestion by one answerer, Linux machines do not support international characters any better than Macintosh or Windows. They all use Unicode and can access any Unicode character.



Start backing up your system, so that you can restore fonts and utilities if they get blown away again.



And, no, fonts that you use are mostly not standard with a browser. You get a free browser? Do you also expect free fonts covering every Unicode character in every conceivable style? You can download the Code2000 fonts if you want the closest thing to complete Unicode fonts. But they only appear in one style and some of them are very ugly. They even cost a small amount!

Answer 3

The easy answer is to ask the repair shop if they will help you. The best answer is to partition the drive for a Linux boot and enjoy the wonderful world of international characters.