I'm trying to change the wordpress default language from english to swedish. I uploaded the language directory to wp-content with the swedish .mo file.
Ive defined language in the config.php file but it won't update, when I'm logged in and under updates I can see an option that says restore core files with swedish so I know its working only when I update it is still is english.
Any help is much appreciated.
Check the following links, they deal exactly with the situation you describe (and propose same kind of easy workaround):
http://devblog.fishol.pl/php/wordpress/how-to-restore-default-wordpress-language/
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/change-language-to-english-after-dutch-installation
Hope it helps.