<p>Usaully it means that your installation of language support is not thorough.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-18T12:57:45.230Z
2018-04-18T12:57:45.230Z
Archeosudoerus
<blockquote>
  <p>Any idea why this is?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojibake" rel="noreferrer">Mojibake</a>, or in Chinese, Luan Ma (乱码). This is most likely due to language code mismatch -- Each character in the computer is represented by a number, and your computer doesn't agree which number represent which Chinese character with the program. </p>

<p>Specifically, the Chinese program is probably in GB, while it is being opened as Unicode.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>What (if anything) can I do to fix this? </p>
</blockquote>

<p>While it is an open question to identify language codes reliably in general, since we know it is GB, there are several options:</p>

<ul>
<li>To do it for all programs, search "region" in control panel. Go to "Administrative - Language for non-Unicode programs" and change it to the Chinese region you're in.</li>
<li>If the problem persists (which means Windows failed to detect the program is not in Unicode), or you prefer to set language program-by-program (because this happens to many Japanese programs as well, hence the name Mojibake), you can use <a href="http://pooi.moe/Locale-Emulator/" rel="noreferrer">Locale Emulator</a>.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-19T13:58:22.673Z
2018-04-19T13:58:22.673Z
Zuoanqh
<p>My company uses a service to observe several rooms in our office, and when I downloaded the program to allow me to observe these videos some of the text functions fine and some of the text appears as gibberish. Any idea why this is? What (if anything) can I do to fix this?
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/grWAb.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/grWAb.jpg" alt="EZViz Desktop Client"></a></p>

<p>Context:</p>

<ul>
<li>I live and work in China for a Chinese company. I speak and read Chinese decently well.</li>
<li>I can read and type Chinese on my computer just fine.</li>
<li>I run Windows 10.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-18T14:05:12.757Z
If you are using windows, check the default code page for non-unicode programs. Restart is needed when you change this.
fefe
<writing>
Chinese gibberish in a desktop program
# Chinese gibberish in a desktop program

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-18)

My company uses a service to observe several rooms in our office, and when I downloaded the program to allow me to observe these videos some of the text functions fine and some of the text appears as gibberish. Any idea why this is? What (if anything) can I do to fix this?
[![EZViz Desktop Client](https://i.sstatic.net/grWAb.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/grWAb.jpg)

Context:

* I live and work in China for a Chinese company. I speak and read Chinese decently well.
* I can read and type Chinese on my computer just fine.
* I run Windows 10.

**Tags:** writing

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If you are using windows, check the default code page for non-unicode programs. Restart is needed when you change this.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-04-19. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

> Any idea why this is?

This is called [Mojibake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojibake), or in Chinese, Luan Ma (乱码). This is most likely due to language code mismatch -- Each character in the computer is represented by a number, and your computer doesn't agree which number represent which Chinese character with the program.

Specifically, the Chinese program is probably in GB, while it is being opened as Unicode.

> What (if anything) can I do to fix this?

While it is an open question to identify language codes reliably in general, since we know it is GB, there are several options:

* To do it for all programs, search "region" in control panel. Go to "Administrative - Language for non-Unicode programs" and change it to the Chinese region you're in.
* If the problem persists (which means Windows failed to detect the program is not in Unicode), or you prefer to set language program-by-program (because this happens to many Japanese programs as well, hence the name Mojibake), you can use [Locale Emulator](http://pooi.moe/Locale-Emulator/).


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-04-18. Score: 1

Usaully it means that your installation of language support is not thorough.


---

