Windows Input Method Editor (IME)

Overview

Windows XP has a really cool thing in it called the IME that allows you to type in other languages, such as Chinese Pin Yin.

• Navigate to Start -> Control Panel -> Clock, Language, and Region (Change keyboards or other input methods).
• Click on the Keyboards and Languages tab.
• Verify that Install files for East Asian languages is checked.
• Under Text services and input languages click the Details... button.
• Under Installed services click the Add... button.
• Choose your keyboard:
  • Chinese:
    • Input language: Chinese (PRC)
    • Keyboard layout/IME: Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin IME 3.0
  • Japanese:
    • Input language: Japanese
    • Keyboard layout/IME: Microsoft IME Standard 2002 ver 8.1
  • Korean:
    • Input language: Korean
    • Keyboard layout/IME: Korean Input System (IME 2002)
• Click OK.
• Under Preferences click Language Bar...
• Check Show the language bar on the desktop
• Click OK to go back to the Text Services and Input Languages window
• Click OK again to go back to Regional and Language Options
• Click OK a third time to close out of there and save your settings
• Now, you should see the language bar on the upper right part of your screen:
  
• Click on it to change it to your foreign language and it should look similar to the following:
  (Note: you may have different options depending on what program you are using)
  
• For instructions on how to use the Microsoft Pinyin IME:
  • Make sure you have the foreign language keyboard selected
  • Click the help icon  on the language bar
    (Note: if no icon is visible, click the down arrow on the right side of the language bar and check Help)

Note: You can set the key combination for switching between languages or keyboard layouts in the Advanced Key Setting dialog box.
           To open the Advanced Key Setting dialog box, right-click the Language bar, and then click Settings. Under Preferences, click Key Settings.