I would suggest erasing the preferences directory just before starting the following procedure. C:\Documents and Settings\Owner (this is you)\Application Data\VLC Erase VLC, Application Data is a hidden directory so you will need to make it visible.
Considering that VLC will rebuild the preferences folder the first time it is opened, I would suggest using the DOS box method so that the correct language is selected the first time VLC is opened.
Languages
VLC uses the fonts installed on your system for your language! The default is the installed language.
This can be changed in Preferences, Interface from the pull down select your language. But you may not be able to see this.
So open a DOS box and type: CD "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC" Then type: vlc --language en for English or fr for French
Syntax: --language {auto,en,en_GB,ca,da,de,es,fr,it,ja,ka,ko,nl,oc,pt_BR,ro,ru,tr,
zh_CN,zh_TW}
When VLC opens check to be sure you can read the menus and then open Preferences and press "Save" then close the player.
If you are still having problems with your preferred language you will need to install or reinstall that language within Windows so that it will fill in the missing or broken fonts in your system.
