Japanese keyboard help

[Azier the Swordsman]

I just got a Japanese keyboard today, but how do I switch from Romaji to Nihongo? (This thing, unfortunately, doesn't come with instructions.)

[panegryst]

you have to use the Japanese IME (i think...)

[Azier the Swordsman]

However, when I tried to install the IME, it says that the version I'm trying to install cannot be installed on my version of Windows. (Windows XP). Which is kind of odd, since I'm sure the version I'm trying to use is an XP version...

[Kireihana]

Whoa, awesome! What does it look like? Are the little Japanese characters there on the keys, along with the English ones? Is it layed out the same? XD Sorry I've always wondered what foreign keyboards are like.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I's the exact same as an American keyboard, except that the kana are written alongside the romaji. It definately takes some getting used to.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I can only seem to type in ｶﾀｶﾅ (katakana) for some reason. Hiragana and Kanji I can not figure out...

[panegryst]

hmm... is there a key you can press on the keyboard to switch between kana?

[Azier the Swordsman]

Apparantly my computer seems to be trying to reject it... (layout IS slightly different... some keys are in different locations...) I probably need to first figure out how to configure my computer for the new keyboard.

And I don't see a switch anywhere. I've been trying to use the IME but I seem to be running into some bugs...

[Master Kenzo]

If the layout is different, you may need to change your keyboard layout in Control Panel somewhere, or else you'll have As appearing when you type Ps (for example).