Solved: Windows XP came in german with my laptop but now I want to change WinXP into

[Heinrich]

Hi, I am the legal owner of a WindowsXP version in German. I purchased my laptop in Germany but live now in South Africa for the last few years and like to change to the english XP version. What would I need to do without braking the law.

 

[br1ng3r]

Have you tried changing the settings in "regional and languages" in the control panel.

 

[Heinrich]

thanks bring3r, I have but it does not change the software of windowsXP. That is all in german and if I want to install a english version to update/upgrade it want do it because of the difference in the language. I have to install completely new a windowsXP version but my legal windows installation key will not work on any other XP installation disk. What now I ask. I tried to communicate with Microsoft but there is no change of getting specifics, all is computerrised and my needs do not seem to ever came up before.

 

[arknorth]

Well the make and model of the laptop will also be needed, since some of the manufacturers also like to tinker with Windows to their own liking, and things like changing the way it speaks to you can depend on this.

The best way to swap the language of any computer is to restore it to the way it was when it was first turned on, since that is when it was set this way in the first place. That can be pretty rough on the machine though, as this also tends to wipe out any data you had prior. The simple way is what br1ng3r said, but what happened when you tried this tends to lead me to think it may have been modified by the manufacturer, and the only option would be to either live with the way it runs now, or save everything and run the restoration program that should have come with or been made for this computer.

A-N

 

[jazz3000]

Call and see if Microsoft will swap a copy with you and give you an english version. They've been known to help. Jazz

 

[arknorth]

True true - but in S. Africa?

A-N

 

[jazz3000]

Why not. Microsoft is Microsoft. Never hurts to try...Jazz

 

[Heinrich]

Hi guy's thanks for the advise from all of you. I will get in touch with Microsoft here in South Africa and see what they have to say. If I don't come right I may try to buy a cheap PC with a legal english version. It may does work out cheaper then to just buy a new Windows XP CD.
thanks anyway to all of you.
Heinrich