IME: Can't set Half-Width Alphanumeric as default in Windows 8 Japanese

Hi,

I see that this is your first post in this forum, welcome to the Microsoft Community.

The Half-Width Alphanumeric was set as the default when I tried to reproduce this issue. So, this issue could occur due to some incorrect settings or due to some corrupt IME files in the computer. I would suggest you to try these methods and check if it helps:

Method 1:

First, I would recommend resetting the IME properties to default and check if that helps. Refer to these steps:

1. Press Windows key + X and select ‘Control panel’.
2. In the control panel, set the ‘view by’ option on the top right to ‘large icons’.
3. Click on the ‘language’ option and click on the ‘Options’ link against the Japanese language pack.
4. Click on the ‘options’ link against the ‘Input method’.
5. In the settings window, click on ‘Advanced’ button and then click on ‘Others’ tab in the new window.
6. Click on ‘reset property settings’ to reset the setting to default.

Method 2:

If the issue still persists, I would suggest you to remove the language pack and install it again to check. Refer to the steps:

1. Go to the language options in control panel as suggested in the previous method.
2. Now click on the ‘language pack’ to select it and click on ‘remove’ button on the top.
3. Install the language pack again and check.

You can also refer to this article for more information:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/add-language-keyboard

Try these steps and let us know the results. We’d be happy to help if you need any further assistance.

Hi. Thanks for the answer.

Method 1 didn't work. I did what you told me but after rebooting, Hiragana still is the default option.

However, after clicking on "reset property settings", I checked the entry in the registry I mentioned before (option3 in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IME\15.0\IMEJP\MSIME) and the value always goes back to C.

I tried typing any random character and then reset the IME properties and the value was, again, C.

What value do you have in your registry?

For method 2 I had to do some workaround. I couldn't just remove the Japanese language because it's part of the OS. I'm not using an English Windows 8 with the Japanese add-on pack. This Windows 8 IS IN Japanese.

So, I added and downloaded the English language pack, set it as default (I moved it up in the Language screen) and then I could delete the Japanese language. After rebooting, Windows was in english.

So I went back to the Language screen and added Japanese and I moved it up in the list then, I rebooted the system.

Windows was again in Japanese but Hiragana is still the default option.

This "Hiragana as default" thing is driving me crazy.

There has to be a way of solving it.

I had a problem with Full-width alphanumeric.

Need my computer to switch from Hiragana to half-width alphanumeric back and forth but for some reason, it started switching to full-width which I never use.

It was a HUGE relief to find your answer above and it worked for me.    

Your Method 1 worked for me!!!!! 

Thank you, thank you, thank youuuuu!!!!!

You're awesome!

I have had the same problem with you since updating my Windows 8 to Windows 8.1

Half-Width Alphanumeric were my default layout on Japanese Input. And now, the update ruin it for good. Really annoying. Tried everything solution, including regedit, mentioned in this page, but nothing works.

**edit**

Heck, I tried restart my PC after regedit. And I'll be damned, it totally works!

Thanks Deniii2000 for that regedit method!