When you click in something you can type in ,eg notepad word etc, do the language bar icons change? The input method icon (Ithink it looks like an A) won't show unless you have an active window which you can type in. I hope that came out understandable - it's hard to explain. If I was at home I could give you some screen shots. Another thing is to drag the language bar on to the desktop so you can see it all. Although with the problem I used to have I'd just get the JP and Keyboard icons with the CAPS and KANA buttons. If it's working properly you should see the input method icon (looks like letter A). Can you show an image of it once you drag the language bar on the desktop? No worries. I don't mind helping at all. It's frustrating when the language bar doesn't work. We'll work it out I'm sure If it's still not sorted by the time I get home (3 hours away) I'll do some screenshots etc to help.