Japanese Input Mode problem

[Jarle]

Hi!

I'm going crazy on a problem with Microsoft IME keyboard for Japanese...

I've already searched other threads, but i can't see noone with my same problem (nor i can find anyone on the internet too).

I have added a japanese keybord (Microsoft IME) and i've set Japanese as current language for not-Unicode programs.

From language bar i can select JP, but the button "input mode" is locked and unclickable, while fixed on alphanumeric input... I've tried with shortcut also but it doesn't change.

If i click on the desktop i can choose hiragana or katakana and i can write japanese (not that on the desktop this is really useful), but when i select any other program the button reset to alphanumeric and locks itself.

With XP i used this feature a lot with no problems, and i really need it to learn japanese... what should i do?

Thanks

[-pops-]

Bear with us a little while, there are active forum members in Japan who I'm sure will try to help.

[Jarle]

Thanks, i will! :D

[AlanHo]

Have you tried asking the question on the Microsoft Answers Forum?

The following link does not address your specific problem but might steer you to the most appropriate part of that forum

Click here

[Jarle]

Have you tried asking the question on the Microsoft Answers Forum?

The following link does not address your specific problem but might steer you to the most appropriate part of that forum

Click here

Thanks for the answer!

Unluckily that post and the other ones i've found on Microsoft Forum or googling around too, describe problems different from mine.

Usually people aren't able to switch to japanese language, or can write just in hiragana or katakana... The answers on that forum are almost always "try those shortcuts [...]" but that doesn't work for me, plus i can actually see the "input mode" switch button, but it's locked, if i click on it nothing happens.

That's why i cannot understand why noone else seems to experience the exactly same problem.

I'll try to ask there too anyways.

[sorush.nazari]

Have you tried asking the question on the Microsoft Answers Forum?

The following link does not address your specific problem but might steer you to the most appropriate part of that forum

Click here

Thanks for the answer!

Unluckily that post and the other ones i've found on Microsoft Forum or googling around too, describe problems different from mine.

Usually people aren't able to switch to japanese language, or can write just in hiragana or katakana... The answers on that forum are almost always "try those shortcuts [...]" but that doesn't work for me, plus i can actually see the "input mode" switch button, but it's locked, if i click on it nothing happens.

That's why i cannot understand why noone else seems to experience the exactly same problem.

I'll try to ask there too anyways.

Have you tried installing and uninstalling the language settings in control panel?

[Jarle]

Have you tried installing and uninstalling the language settings in control panel?

Uhm... what do you mean with uninstalling? I've tried to remove japanese keyboard and the other options i've had set, reboot and setting them again...

If you talk about installing something from the Windows CD, no. I've not tried this, but i don't know hot to do that.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Just to make sure: you have Windows 7 - English language version? [Edit: Ok, I've seen in another topic that you have the Italian Windows version.]

I have used the Japanese IME for 15 years, and I have never experienced any problem. Unfortunately I don't have Windows 7, so I cannot test it myself and guide you.

Usually the IME is only active if the mouse pointer is inside some text area of an application. It shouldn't be active if it is on the Desktop.

What application(s) have you tried it on, with the mouse pointer inside the text area? Can you try it here, on your browser, when answering in this forum?

[Jarle]

That's the strange thing... I select any text area and it doesn't work, but if i try on the desktop and write something, it appears a little box with inside what i wrote.

As you suggested i'm trying to use IME there, but it doesn't work whit IE or Firefox... Strangely with Opera it works!

I'm noticing that if i click on the red dot with the brush on the language bar (where JP doesn't work) there's not even "Microsoft IME" selected (well it's not there at all XD).

I've tried also notepad, notepad++, amsn, OpenOffice...

Never had problems with those applications before (on Windows XP i mean), but now it doesn't just works there.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Strangely with Opera it works!

That's a good sign - it means that the IME is not completely not working.

But first a slight correction to what I wrote yesterday...

Usually the IME is only active if the mouse pointer is inside some text area of an application.

That is not exactly true: it is not the mouse pointer that must be inside the application, but it must be the cursor that must be inside an editable area of the application. E.g. when editing a post in this forum (in Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Opera) it must be ready to type text - English or Japanese.

Before I do some more research, one question: can you (when the cursor is in an editable area) switch between English (or Italian) and Japanese input, using the keyboard shortcut Shift+Alt ?

[Jarle]

Thanks again for all the troubles. Yes obviously i thought you were talking about the cursor and not the pointer.

I've tried that shourtcut and it changes between IT (EN) and JP, also in those application that do not let me write in hiragana (obviously the other shortcuts aren't still working).

Today i've asked a friend of mine who has Win7 to "setup" a japanese keyboard with microsoft IME (i was there at his home), and it just worked flawless everywhere...

I don't know, maybe it's "just" a bad installation of some components in Windows 7 on my pc... But i really cannot format just hoping that it will work.

I attach a screenshot of my pc while i'm writing this message. As you can se the cursor is flashing (well you can't see that :D) into the text area, there's a strange uhm... square around Input mode button that disable it, and you can see that little gray dot under there? That's what it open if i click on the red circle/brush button, instead of the box with Microsoft IME checked.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Ok, I see now what is going on (but I don't understand it). Since it works as expected on your friend's machine, there is obviously something wrong on your system.

First thing: let's check for missing or damaged system files, using the System File Checker. Open a Command Prompt and type

sfc /scannow

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833 for more details on the System File Checker.

One more question: are you running as an Administrator user?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I just found a topic on the Microsoft forums that exactly describes your problem: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7desktop/thread/3360b422-47c4-41ba-8e1d-810751994f40.

Can you try if the solution (Method 1) fixes the problem?

[Jarle]

Yeah he seems to have the same problem, but the answer is the usual one they give for every problem with language bar... I've tried this a number of time without changes.

The admin/user thing is not really clear on Windows 7 (at least it's not clear to me). Things are little different from XP, where the admin had full power. I'm using the main and only account of the system, but it's not a real admin. However i can run things in admin mode by selecting it by right-clicking on the icons.

I've used that System File Checker (in admin mode), but after a full scan it only says that there are no integrity violations.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Two more things I can suggest:

1. http://fixitcenter.support.microsoft.com/
   
2. a Windows Repair install; see http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html
   

[Jarle]

Two more things I can suggest:

1. http://fixitcenter.support.microsoft.com/
   
2. a Windows Repair install; see http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html
   

I will try after the exams i have for the next days... I will keep you updated, thanks ^__^

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

がんばって！

[AlanHo]

がんばって！

Go for what...?..

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

がんばって！

Go for what...?..

Not exactly - it's a good wish for success or luck.