Can I use UK-version of XP Pro in the USA?

[Anabella]

I recently purchased a fully sealed retail box of Windows XP Pro from a
seller online only to find out that it is a UK-version, although made in the
US. (E85-02667) I've doublechecked the COA and everything looks legitimate
according to the Microsoft "How to Tell" website, including the holographic
ribbon under the port hole. I have not opened up the package yet to look at
the CD but the box is sealed, so I'm assuming it's fine.

What I need to know however is will this UK-version work on my US-made
computer? There is very little documentation online to support this although
someone did say it would work but that the UK had many programming
differences. What are these differences and will they affect my ability to
use it properly?

I'd appreciate as detailed an answer as possible so I can decide to return
it or keep it.

Thank you.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I recently purchased a fully sealed retail box of Windows XP Pro from a
seller online only to find out that it is a UK-version, although made in
the
US. (E85-02667) I've doublechecked the COA and everything looks legitimate
according to the Microsoft "How to Tell" website, including the
holographic
ribbon under the port hole. I have not opened up the package yet to look
at
the CD but the box is sealed, so I'm assuming it's fine.

What I need to know however is will this UK-version work on my US-made
computer? There is very little documentation online to support this
although
someone did say it would work but that the UK had many programming
differences. What are these differences and will they affect my ability to
use it properly?

I'd appreciate as detailed an answer as possible so I can decide to return
it or keep it.

Thank you.

It will work but you may find that some of the defaults, such as keyboards,
languages and currencies, are set to UK rather than US keyboards, language
and currency symbols. For example, on a US keyboard, Shift+3 gives you
the # symbol, on a UK keyboard that key combination gives you "£", the
symbol for the english Pound.

You can see the differences in the keyboards here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards

Spellcheckers don't actually come with Windows, but rather with Word (or 3rd
party spellcheckers), so you shouldn't have problems with spellings like
"colour" or "color" as long as you use a US version of that.

The problems should not otherwise be significant.

HTH
-pk

 

[Anabella]

It will work but you may find that some of the defaults, such as keyboards,
languages and currencies, are set to UK rather than US keyboards, language
and currency symbols. For example, on a US keyboard, Shift+3 gives you
the # symbol, on a UK keyboard that key combination gives you "£", the
symbol for the english Pound.

You can see the differences in the keyboards here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_American_keyboards

Spellcheckers don't actually come with Windows, but rather with Word (or 3rd
party spellcheckers), so you shouldn't have problems with spellings like
"colour" or "color" as long as you use a US version of that.

The problems should not otherwise be significant.

HTH
-pk

Hello Patrick,

Thank you for pointing out this detail! Is there any way to change the
"default settings" for the language once XP is installed or am I stuck not
being able to use the keyboard for US annotations? That's a problem actually,
since I do need my normal keyboard.

Thanks very much.

 

[Gotde T Shirt]

I recently purchased a fully sealed retail box of Windows XP Pro from a
seller online only to find out that it is a UK-version, although made in the
US. (E85-02667) I've doublechecked the COA and everything looks legitimate
according to the Microsoft "How to Tell" website, including the holographic
ribbon under the port hole. I have not opened up the package yet to look at
the CD but the box is sealed, so I'm assuming it's fine.

What I need to know however is will this UK-version work on my US-made
computer? There is very little documentation online to support this although
someone did say it would work but that the UK had many programming
differences. What are these differences and will they affect my ability to
use it properly?

I'd appreciate as detailed an answer as possible so I can decide to return
it or keep it.

Thank you.

Sorry you'll just have to buy a UK keyboard and learn proper English.


Seriously...
AFAICT Windows XP sold in the UK always comes with multiple regional
settings. The copies I have to hand have 13 flavours of English - UK plus
12 colonial dialects, including US. As well as United Kingdom keyboard
layout, "US" and "United States International" are offered, amongst many
others.

You just need to use Control Panel to change the settings to your needs.

 

[Anabella]

Sorry you'll just have to buy a UK keyboard and learn proper English.


Seriously...
AFAICT Windows XP sold in the UK always comes with multiple regional
settings. The copies I have to hand have 13 flavours of English - UK plus
12 colonial dialects, including US. As well as United Kingdom keyboard
layout, "US" and "United States International" are offered, amongst many
others.

You just need to use Control Panel to change the settings to your needs.

OK then. I hope you're right! Thank you very much to everyone for your help!

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hello Patrick,

Thank you for pointing out this detail! Is there any way to change the
"default settings" for the language once XP is installed or am I stuck not
being able to use the keyboard for US annotations? That's a problem
actually,
since I do need my normal keyboard.

Thanks very much.

Being the default does not mean that you cannot select and use the US
keyboard or other settings. It just means that the UK options will be
presented *first*, and you have to understand that you then select the US
keyboards and layouts. You make this selection during Setup.

HTH
-pk

 

[Anabella]

Being the default does not mean that you cannot select and use the US
keyboard or other settings. It just means that the UK options will be
presented *first*, and you have to understand that you then select the US
keyboards and layouts. You make this selection during Setup.

HTH
-pk

OK Patrick, that sounds great. Thanks again - really appreciate your input
and help! Now I'm going to install this thing