Hi "scope11" -
If I were faced with your dilemma, I would do the following:
1. Purchase an OEM English version of Windows XP Home Edition:
Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102059
2. Perform a "clean install", then visit the IBM support web site to download
all the recommended IBM Windows XP drivers designed for your specific
IBM notebook.
--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx
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:
| Bruce - although I can appreciate your desire to assist others on this site,
| and admire the wealth of knowledge that I'm sure you have, there are some
| fundamental things I feel compelled to correct you on.
|
| "Bruce Chambers" wrote:
|
| >
| > How could one possibly not know this, given the fact that it has never
| > been possible to convert one language version of Windows to another
| > language version. (And the MUI shell that can be installed on top of
| > English versions of Windows is something quite different.)
| >
|
| What a dumb statement. Again - you are obviously a very knowledgable person
| with respect to Windows, and many other computer related things most likely.
| However, to assume that everyone would know such a thing as you stated above
| is just stupid and ignorant. I apologize that I am not as smart as you
| Bruce, but I'm sure that the majority of Windows users do not know that it is
| not possible to change languages.
|
|
| > Why? Does the world owe you a living? Get real! You were, in affect,
| > using "stolen goods," whether knowingly or not; this was discovered, and
| > the "stolen goods" were returned to the rightful owner. Do you
| > seriously believe that you're entitled to another free copy of Windows?
| > Take the issue up with the individual who sold you the "stolen goods"
| > in the first place; no one else owes you a thing.
| >
|
| No, the world does not owe me anything Bruce. But obviously I am a victim
| here. I was given a load of BS from the store in Tawain that sold me the
| laptop - whcih told me that the laptop came with a legitimate version of
| Windows straight from IBM, and that they would flip the language to English
| for me. I'm not looking for a "free" copy of Windows here, I was only trying
| to ensure that I "was not" running a pirated version of Windows - and hence
| why I ended up in this form - looking for an English solution. In my
| opinion, I already paid for the copy of Windows that I have. Why would I pay
| for it again because it's in the wrong language???
| >
|
|
| >
| > The how did the merchant "screw" you? Did he not do exactly as you
| > asked? How is Microsoft "punishing" you? By not rewarding your use of
| > pirated software? Remember, *you* bought the Chinese laptop, all by
| > yourself.
| >
| Let's get something straight - the merchant put a BS copy of Windows on my
| PC to close the sale. Had the merchant been honest about the language thing,
| there would have been no deal. This was not some Mom & Pop shop in Tawian -
| it was a large chain retailer in that country. The merchant did not do
| exactly as I asked. Does it sound like I'm the type of guy that walked into
| the store and said "Hey, Mr. Merchant, can I buy that there laptop and can
| you throw in a pirated copy of XP while your at it?". Microsoft, with it's
| WGA has actually taken a paying Customer like me (remember, I paid for XP on
| the laptop) and told me that because they don't support language changes, I
| need to buy another copy.
| >
|
|
| > Why should Microsoft give you a free English license?
| >
| I never asked for a free English license. I have a perfectly legitimate
| license to use the OS already. It's just in the wrong language. Surely
| there must be a better solution than "Go buy a new copy, your dumb for
| thinking you can change the language". I guess I was just hoping that
| solution could be a legal solution that Microsoft liked. Guess not.
|
|
| > Ah, but that's just the point, you're not one of Microsoft's customers,
| > in this particular instance. Because you purchased an OEM license,
| > you're the customer of the laptop manufacturer. You even agreed to a
| > contract to that affect: remember the EULA, by whose terms you agreed to
| > abide?
| >
| I'd have to disagree with you here again Bruce. I am a customer of both the
| laptop manufacturer and Microsoft. I did purchase a Microsoft XP product
| that came bundled with the laptop. Recently, when I called Microsoft I
| encountered a similar attitude to the one that you have - which is
| essentially I am the bad guy here that is either trying to run a pirated
| version of Windows or just stupid for buying a Chinese license, in which case
| I'm too dumb to deserve any Customer support. In speaking with IBM, they are
| most helpful (MS can surely learn a thing or two from their customer
| support...) but their hands are tied as Microsoft does not allow the language
| changes.
|
| Best part in all of this - everyone I spoke with (Microsoft suport, IBM
| service and even here on this forum), nobody seems to care about the large
| merchant that installed a BS version of XP on the laptop in the first place.
| MS should care because it makes more sense to go after that guy then a guy
| like me who does not know any better - and IBM should care because it's their
| re-seller that lied to me in the first place.
|
|
| Sorry Bruce - but you go on like I'm the jerk pirate trying to screw
| somebody, when I'm just a simple pc user who is kind of confused as to why
| such things were able to happen in the first place. If you had my lack of
| computer knowledge and this happend to you, you'd feel just as wronged as I
| do.
|
| - If MS planned to shut down non-valid versions of their OS's, then why did
| they allow the guy in the store to install it and me to run it for over a
| year without a problem??
| - Changing a language in a program can't be rocket science. If MS put half
| the effort into making it's products better as they do in trying to stop
| piracy, then maybe that store that sold me the laptop would have never had to
| put it on there in the first place.
