Hi, just been give a laptop. The problem I have

Hi, there is a setting.

I'm on vista but xp should be similar.
Click on start menu, then select control panel, now you should see a list of icons,select regional and language options or it might be labeled as Clock, language and region. Select keyboard and laguages tab and alter the setting to your language. Remember to remove the one you don't want otherwise it will default to the old one.
You can have several languages and you can flick through them by pressing Alt+Shift.
Don't forget to apply the alterations.

I hope this has help you, If it has please rate me.
Regards - Anthony