How Can I Set the Input Method for a Windows ECS?

Symptom

The Windows ECS cannot switch the input method.

Possible Cause

• The ctfmon.exe process is not started.
• The input indication icon is turned off.

Solutions to a Missing Language Bar

Solution 1: Check whether ctfmon.exe is started.

1. Open C:\Windows\System32.
2. Double-click ctfmon.exe and check whether the language bar is shown in the lower right corner and, if yes, whether you can switch the language.

3. Enable the automatic language bar startup upon ECS startup.
   1. In the Run dialog box, enter regedit and click OK to open the registry editor.
   2. In the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Run directory, create a file named ctfmon.exe.
      Figure 1 Run directory
      
   3. Right-click the file you created and click Modify. Change the Value data to C:\Windows\System32\ctfmon.exe.
      Figure 2 Editing the value data
      
   4. In the Run dialog box, enter msconfig and click OK to open System Configuration.
   5. Click the Startup tab, find and select C:\Windows\System32\ctfmon.exe, and click Apply and OK. Save the configurations and log out. Restart the ECS.
      Figure 3 Selecting C:\Windows\System32\ctfmon.exe
      

Solution 2: Enable the input indication icon.

1. Log in to the ECS and click Customize in the lower right corner.
   Figure 4 Clicking Customize
   
2. In the Notification Area Icons window, click Turn system icons on or off.
   Figure 5 Turning system icons on or off
   
3. Set Input Indicator to On and click OK.
   Figure 6 Turning input indicator on
   

Adding Another Input Language

For example, add Japanese on an ECS running Windows Server 2008.

1. Log in to the ECS and open the control panel.
2. Click Region and Language.
   Figure 7 Region and Language
   
3. On the Keyboards and Languages tab, click Change keyboards.
   Figure 8 Keyboards and Languages
   
4. Right-click the language bar and click Settings to open the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box. On the General tab, click Add.
   Figure 9 Text Services and Input Languages
   
5. In the Add Input Language dialog box, find and double-click Japanese (Japan) and then Keyboard.
   Figure 10 Adding an input language
   
6. Select Japanese and Microsoft IME. Click OK and then Apply to save the configurations.
   Figure 11 Selecting Japanese