IP Address and Language

[RogerC]

I posted this to an incorrect group and it was suggested I try here.

From time to time I get webpages in Dutch. I thought to try the Office 2007
trial but though I was in the Microsoft UK website I was directed to the
Dutch trial page. It is most annoying.

I live in Holland but my Internet Options and PC are set to English
languages and my location UK. I am wondering whether it is my IP address the
website 'reads' and not my IO setup. It makes me wonder why IE7 has a
language option if Microsoft itself does not make use of it. :-(

If it is the case that the problem is IP related, is there any way to ensure
the websites only show their pages in English, the language default of my PC
and IE7?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

 

[RalfG]

I think you might be expecting a process that doesn't exist. I suppose a
web site with pages in multiple languages could automatically select the
page you get shown based on your IP (ie. BBC blocks certain content from
non-British IPs). Normally if a website offers their pages in multiple
languages you have to select the one you want. Generally your prefered
language choice would be stored in a cookie that is set by the specific web
site, so if you have cookies blocked in IE or your other security software
the web page will always revert to its default language each time you go
there. You'd have to turn off cookie blocking for at least those specific
sites where you need cookies enabled... Same thing for Scripts that might be
used on those pages. The language settings in Windows basically only; a)
provide display support for language specific characters and fonts and b)
provide character input support for assorted languages, keyboards etc.

 

[RogerC]

Thank you RalfG.

I get to:

http://ukireland.trymicrosoftoffice.com/default.aspx

Which is in English, but when I click on a trial link I am immediately
directed to:

http://trial.trymicrosoftoffice.com...?re_ms=oo&family=officestandard&culture=nl-BE

This page is in Dutch. It seems the problem is in the link which does not
allow for a language choice. I would love the opportunity to choose English
but somehow Microsoft has omitted to consider this. :-(

I will try the cookie option.

Thank you for your help.

Regards,

Roger

 

[RalfG]

Thanks for providing the links. It appears that the scripts on the initial
web page do indeed scan for originating IPs. The trial links that it gave me
were:

http://canada.trymicrosoftoffice.com/product.aspx?re_ms=oo&family=officestandard&culture=en-CA

http://canada.trymicrosoftoffice.com/product.aspx?re_ms=oo&family=officepro&culture=en-CA

Which is correct for my IP. The default language set in my Windows/IE etc.
is US English. Feel free to try these links though.

I got the same result with Firefox and Opera as well. I think it's a case of
whoever maintains the website got a bit too clever and outsmarted
themselves. You could try accessing that main Office site through a proxy
server in the UK or some other English speaking region to see if you can
arrange yourself a permanent workaround for this sort of problem. Sorry, I
don't have any URLs for such.