I know...the geekier of us developers would NEVER just UPGRADE a device using the mainstream method that Microsoft wants you to use....I decided to take the safe route and just go through the upgrade like everyone else. The reason I did this was because the two devices are dual boot Windows/Android tablets...and I didn't want to risk messing up the Android side of the installation.
I'm a tablet guy, not a TV Stick/Box guy (for the most part). And I haven't had a chance to perform the upgrade on my Pipo X7 and a new Beelink Windows stick I just received to test. But I needed to upgrade my tablets for a project at work.
My two tablets to upgrade were an Onda V919 3G Air and a Teclast X98 Air.
Both of these tablets came with the Chinese version of Windows 8.1 installed with the English (US) language packs from Geekbuying.com. For months, I was plagued with Chinese system prompts, until I figured out how to get everything set right in Windows 8.1.
The Onda upgrade went smoothly enough. I still had to change a few settings to copy the user language settings to the system/admin profile to eliminate Chinese on the sign-in and exit screens.
The trouble happened with the Teclast tablet.
After the upgrade....there was NO ENGLISH whatsoever. Everything had reverted to the original Chinese prompts/menus and settings screens. Luckily, I had the Onda to sit side-by-side with the Teclast as a guide to navigate the system settings to get to the language/location part.
Everything looked as though it should work, but nothing I tried made any difference. After two whole days of poking and prodding this tablet, I finally found a simple solution.
I deleted the previously installed English (US) language pack that was carried over from Windows 8.1. I first had to install the English (Canada) language pack so it would let me delete the original one. Once I re-installed the English (US) language pack everything magically showed up in English. I was able to view the lists of languages and locations to select the proper settings and get it all up and running again. You must set the location to United States (or where ever your country is) before all of the system language settings are activated.
The only difference I've found between the two tablets was that the Onda tablet defaulted my user account as a normal user. The Teclast tablet had me logged in as the administrator. I'm not sure what real difference that made....but it kept me from changing the language right off the bat.
Maybe sometime this week I will have time to do the upgrade on my TV devices and share any unusual experiences....but at least for me....the language settings are of paramount importance. I don't read Chinese AT ALL. If it was any other language, I could do a whole lot better....like Spanish, German or Italian....I've even dug around in some Slovakian ROM's I've written.
Since Googling this problem didn't reveal any clues to a solution to my problem....I thought I would share my experience here for the next guy to tries it.
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