Microsoft

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Clock, Language, and Region Control Panel

By · November 25, 2009, 5:05 AM PST

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  • Windows 7 Walkthrough: Clock, Language, and Region Control Panel

    Windows 7’s Control Panel is literally packed with tools (a.k.a. applets) that allow you to configure and control the way that the operating system works. Because the Control Panel has so many tools, Microsoft added a Search box to make it easy for you to find the tool that you need for a particular task.

    To help you become familiar with all of the tools that are available in Windows 7’s Control Panel, I have created the Windows 7 Walkthrough series in which I’ll show you and provide a brief overview of each tool in the Control Panel categories. This one covers the tools in the Clock, Language and Region category.

    Keep in mind that I’ll be using the Ultimate edition of Windows 7, which contains some features not available in other editions of the operating system.

  • Category View

    When you access Windows 7’s Control Panel you’ll see that there are 8 main categories. The Clock, Language, and Region category is the seventh one in the Control Panel and contains all the tools that you’ll use to change date, time, language, numbers, currency, and more.

    Keep in mind that while I am using the Category view, you can display the Control Panel in either large or small icon view, both of which show icons for each of the 45 tools.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Clock, Language, and Region

    When you open the Clock, Language, and Region category you’ll see that there are two sections in this category.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Date and Time

    When you select Date and Time, you’ll see this dialog box with the Date and Time tab selected. Here you can see the currently selected date, time and time zone.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Date and Time Settings

    When you select the Change date and time button, you’ll see the Date and Time Settings dialog box and can use the calendar control to change the date and the spin button control to change the time.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Time Zone Settings

    When you select the Change time zone button, you’ll see the Time Zone Settings dialog box and can use the drop down list to choose a time zone as well as set the Daylight Savings Time adjustment.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Additional Clocks

    If you want to display additional clocks from other time zones in the pop-up that appears in the Notification area when you hover your mouse pointer over the time, you can select two other clocks from within the Additional Clocks tab.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Internet Time

    In order to present the correct time, Windows regularly synchronizes its clock with an Internet time server as displayed on the Internet Time tab.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Internet Time Settings

    By default, Windows regularly synchronizes its clock with time.windows.com. If you prefer, you can click the Change Settings button and choose a different Internet time server.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Region and Language

    When you select Region and Language, you’ll see this dialog box with the Formats tab selected. Here you can see the currently selected language as well as date and time formats.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Customize Format

    When you click the Additional settings button, you’ll see the Customize Format dialog box and can alter regional formats using the controls on the Numbers, Currency, Time, and Date tabs.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Location

    On the Location tab, you’ll see and can change your default location, which is used to provide applications with information about your computer's geographic location.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Keyboards and Languages

    From the Keyboards and Languages tab you can change the keyboard’s input language as well as the display language, which is used to display text and recognize speech and handwriting.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Text Services and Input Languages

    When you select the Change keyboards button, you’ll see the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box and can use the controls on the General, Language Bar, and Advanced Key Settings tabs to change the input language and the customize the keyboard.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Install or Uninstall Display Language

    When you select the Install/uninstall languages button, you’ll see the Install or uninstall display language window and can use the controls to change the language Windows uses to display text in wizards, dialog boxes, menus, and other items in the user interface.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Administrative

    From the Administrative tab you can view and copy the international settings as well view and change the system locale settings.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Welcome Screen and New User Account Settings

    When you click the Copy Settings button, you’ll see the Welcome screen and new user account settings dialog box, which displays the language and location settings for the current user and will allow you to copy these settings to other accounts. When you choose regional and language settings for your computer, such as your default input language or keyboard layout, you can apply those settings to special accounts in Windows called reserved accounts. Reserved accounts include the default user account and the system accounts.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Change System Locale

    When you click the Change System locale button, you’ll see this dialog box and can use the drop down to select a different system locale setting. The system locale determines the default character set (letters, symbols, and numbers) and font used to enter and display information in programs that don't use Unicode. This allows non-Unicode programs to run on your computer using the specified language.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

  • Clock, Language, and Region Walkthrough Map

    This tree diagram presents a map of the Clock, Language, and Region walkthrough.

    Images by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic

Windows 7 Walkthrough: Clock, Language, and Region Control Panel

Windows 7’s Control Panel is literally packed with tools (a.k.a. applets) that allow you to configure and control the way that the operating system works. Because the Control Panel has so many tools, Microsoft added a Search box to make it easy for you to find the tool that you need for a particular task.

To help you become familiar with all of the tools that are available in Windows 7’s Control Panel, I have created the Windows 7 Walkthrough series in which I’ll show you and provide a brief overview of each tool in the Control Panel categories. This one covers the tools in the Clock, Language and Region category.

Keep in mind that I’ll be using the Ultimate edition of Windows 7, which contains some features not available in other editions of the operating system.

Related Topics:

Microsoft Enterprise Software Software Collaboration Mobility Cloud Hardware

By Greg Shultz

Greg Shultz is a freelance Technical Writer. Previously, he has worked as Documentation Specialist in the software industry, a Technical Support Specialist in educational industry, and a Technical Journalist in the computer publishing industry.

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