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ASCII characters may show instead of text for some applications for Windows 8 Simplified Chinese

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Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:
  • You have a PC with a new copy of Windows 8 Simplified Chinese installed.
  • After powering on the PC, it starts OOBE (Out Of Box Experience) and when you get to the Region and Language screen, Chinese (Simplified, Singapore) is chosen for the Language.
  • After finishing OOBE and booting to the Windows 8 Start screen, you launch PowerShell or Skype.
In this scenario, ASCII symbols replace most or all of the Simplified Chinese text in the PowerShell or Skype applications.

Note: Alternately, you may reproduce this scenario on Windows 8 Simplified Chinese after OOBE by changing the system locale to Chinese (Simplified, Singapore) in the Control Panel Region applet.

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Cause

This is due to the default font used by the PowerShell and Skype applications in Windows 8.

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Workaround

There is currently no known workaround for Skype. To work around this issue for PowerShell, you will need to first install the English language pack if it is not already installed. Language packs can be installed in the Language applet in Control Panel by choosing "Add a language". Once the English language pack has been installed, use the following steps to restore Simplified Chinese text in the PowerShell application:
  1. In the Control Panel Region applet, select the Administrative tab.
  2. Select the "Change system locale..." button and select a different non-Chinese language (such as English (United States)).
  3. Select OK and then OK again to exit the Region applet. Reboot the PC if prompted.
  4. Go back into the Region applet and change the system locale to Chinese (Simplified, China) and then select OK twice to exit the Region applet. Reboot the PC if prompted.
  5. Finally, go back into the Region applet and change the system locale to Chinese (Simplified, Singapore).

PowerShell should now correctly display Simplified Chinese text.

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More Information

This issue is only seen in Windows 8 and is not present in Windows 7.

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Keywords: kb

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Article Info
Article ID : 2856655
Revision : 1
Created on : 1/7/2017
Published on : 5/31/2013
Exists online : False
Views : 273