Are licenses language-bound?

OK, so I live in Spain but I'd like to install an english version of Ultimate
64-bit. My local store hast got OEM versions, but only in spanish. If I buy
one of them, can I use it's key to activate an installation from an english
DVD - I can get one off a friend who got it abroad?

Or - alternatively - is there a place where I can just get a license key for
a full version? Windows marketplace obviously doesn't work outside the US -
and they only have upgrade versions anyway. The only prior version of Windows
I have on CD is Me, but I read somewhere that only xp and 2000 are
upgradeable.

At the moment I'm running the RC. Is it possible to upgrade it with an OEM
version, or will it have to be a clean install?

I'm pretty sure that with ULTIMATE, you can download a hefty language add-in
that will change the interface to another language. It requires you to log
off and then log back on, but it works pretty well. I'm running English and
Spanish on mine for kicks and it seems to work extremely well.

The downloads for this are on the Windows Update page ... doesn't require
another DVD, just download the "update".
"Rain in Spain" <Rain in Spain@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BE9D1D51-4F3D-4B06-9B4B-9DC67BDCD817@microsoft.com...
> OK, so I live in Spain but I'd like to install an english version of
> Ultimate
> 64-bit. My local store hast got OEM versions, but only in spanish. If I
> buy
> one of them, can I use it's key to activate an installation from an
> english
> DVD - I can get one off a friend who got it abroad?
>
> Or - alternatively - is there a place where I can just get a license key
> for
> a full version? Windows marketplace obviously doesn't work outside the
> US -
> and they only have upgrade versions anyway. The only prior version of
> Windows
> I have on CD is Me, but I read somewhere that only xp and 2000 are
> upgradeable.
>
> At the moment I'm running the RC. Is it possible to upgrade it with an OEM
> version, or will it have to be a clean install?

Where can I find this add-in? At the shop they said something along these
lines too, but I'm a bit reluctant. I'd rather my system was english from
scratch. Or will the language be changed right down to the core?

"Ben" wrote:

> I'm pretty sure that with ULTIMATE, you can download a hefty language add-in
> that will change the interface to another language. It requires you to log
> off and then log back on, but it works pretty well. I'm running English and
> Spanish on mine for kicks and it seems to work extremely well.
>
> The downloads for this are on the Windows Update page ... doesn't require
> another DVD, just download the "update".
> "Rain in Spain" <Rain in Spain@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:BE9D1D51-4F3D-4B06-9B4B-9DC67BDCD817@microsoft.com...
> > OK, so I live in Spain but I'd like to install an english version of
> > Ultimate
> > 64-bit. My local store hast got OEM versions, but only in spanish. If I
> > buy
> > one of them, can I use it's key to activate an installation from an
> > english
> > DVD - I can get one off a friend who got it abroad?
> >
> > Or - alternatively - is there a place where I can just get a license key
> > for
> > a full version? Windows marketplace obviously doesn't work outside the
> > US -
> > and they only have upgrade versions anyway. The only prior version of
> > Windows
> > I have on CD is Me, but I read somewhere that only xp and 2000 are
> > upgradeable.
> >
> > At the moment I'm running the RC. Is it possible to upgrade it with an OEM
> > version, or will it have to be a clean install?
>
>
>

And can I upgrade an english RC with a spanish OEM? I'll do a clean install
eventually, but not right away.

"Ben" wrote:

> I'm pretty sure that with ULTIMATE, you can download a hefty language add-in
> that will change the interface to another language. It requires you to log
> off and then log back on, but it works pretty well. I'm running English and
> Spanish on mine for kicks and it seems to work extremely well.
>
> The downloads for this are on the Windows Update page ... doesn't require
> another DVD, just download the "update".
> "Rain in Spain" <Rain in Spain@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:BE9D1D51-4F3D-4B06-9B4B-9DC67BDCD817@microsoft.com...
> > OK, so I live in Spain but I'd like to install an english version of
> > Ultimate
> > 64-bit. My local store hast got OEM versions, but only in spanish. If I
> > buy
> > one of them, can I use it's key to activate an installation from an
> > english
> > DVD - I can get one off a friend who got it abroad?
> >
> > Or - alternatively - is there a place where I can just get a license key
> > for
> > a full version? Windows marketplace obviously doesn't work outside the
> > US -
> > and they only have upgrade versions anyway. The only prior version of
> > Windows
> > I have on CD is Me, but I read somewhere that only xp and 2000 are
> > upgradeable.
> >
> > At the moment I'm running the RC. Is it possible to upgrade it with an OEM
> > version, or will it have to be a clean install?
>
>
>

"Rain in Spain" <RaininSpain@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote

> And can I upgrade an english RC with a spanish OEM? I'll do a clean
> install
> eventually, but not right away.

Unfortunately, no, OEM versions cannot do an upgrade. RC1 and RC2 are the
Ultimate version, and none of the RC's are a qualifying OS for the use of an
upgrade version to do an in place upgrade. The only way to upgrade an RC
version is to get the full version of Ultimate.

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]

And concerning my original question? Can I use a spanish OEM key to activate
an installation from an english DVD?

"Rain in Spain" wrote:

> OK, so I live in Spain but I'd like to install an english version of Ultimate
> 64-bit. My local store hast got OEM versions, but only in spanish. If I buy
> one of them, can I use it's key to activate an installation from an english
> DVD - I can get one off a friend who got it abroad?
>
> Or - alternatively - is there a place where I can just get a license key for
> a full version? Windows marketplace obviously doesn't work outside the US -
> and they only have upgrade versions anyway. The only prior version of Windows
> I have on CD is Me, but I read somewhere that only xp and 2000 are
> upgradeable.
>
> At the moment I'm running the RC. Is it possible to upgrade it with an OEM
> version, or will it have to be a clean install?

"Rain in Spain" <RaininSpain@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote

> And concerning my original question? Can I use a spanish OEM key to
> activate
> an installation from an english DVD?
>
> "Rain in Spain" wrote:
>
>> OK, so I live in Spain but I'd like to install an english version of
>> Ultimate
>> 64-bit. My local store hast got OEM versions, but only in spanish. If I
>> buy
>> one of them, can I use it's key to activate an installation from an
>> english
>> DVD - I can get one off a friend who got it abroad?
>>
>> Or - alternatively - is there a place where I can just get a license key
>> for
>> a full version? Windows marketplace obviously doesn't work outside the
>> US -
>> and they only have upgrade versions anyway. The only prior version of
>> Windows
>> I have on CD is Me, but I read somewhere that only xp and 2000 are
>> upgradeable.
>>
>> At the moment I'm running the RC. Is it possible to upgrade it with an
>> OEM
>> version, or will it have to be a clean install?

I'm not sure but I don't think so. For XP the product key was language
specific.

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]

OK, so I'll have to scout for a shop in Spain where I can get an english
version. Why can't you just activate Windows online with a credit card
number? Jeez, what a fuss.

"Rock" wrote:

> "Rain in Spain" <RaininSpain@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
>
> > And concerning my original question? Can I use a spanish OEM key to
> > activate
> > an installation from an english DVD?
> >
> > "Rain in Spain" wrote:
> >
> >> OK, so I live in Spain but I'd like to install an english version of
> >> Ultimate
> >> 64-bit. My local store hast got OEM versions, but only in spanish. If I
> >> buy
> >> one of them, can I use it's key to activate an installation from an
> >> english
> >> DVD - I can get one off a friend who got it abroad?
> >>
> >> Or - alternatively - is there a place where I can just get a license key
> >> for
> >> a full version? Windows marketplace obviously doesn't work outside the
> >> US -
> >> and they only have upgrade versions anyway. The only prior version of
> >> Windows
> >> I have on CD is Me, but I read somewhere that only xp and 2000 are
> >> upgradeable.
> >>
> >> At the moment I'm running the RC. Is it possible to upgrade it with an
> >> OEM
> >> version, or will it have to be a clean install?
>
> I'm not sure but I don't think so. For XP the product key was language
> specific.
>
> --
> Rock [MVP - User/Shell]
>
>

Actually, I just bought a Traditional Chinese Ultimate and used the key to
"re-activate" the English version I got off from Technet.......
Looks fine.....

"Rain in Spain" <RaininSpain@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news0E22645-BC03-49A7-98F3-8EB270B6DC1B@microsoft.com...
> OK, so I'll have to scout for a shop in Spain where I can get an english
> version. Why can't you just activate Windows online with a credit card
> number? Jeez, what a fuss.
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>> "Rain in Spain" <RaininSpain@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
>>
>> > And concerning my original question? Can I use a spanish OEM key to
>> > activate
>> > an installation from an english DVD?
>> >
>> > "Rain in Spain" wrote:
>> >
>> >> OK, so I live in Spain but I'd like to install an english version of
>> >> Ultimate
>> >> 64-bit. My local store hast got OEM versions, but only in spanish. If
>> >> I
>> >> buy
>> >> one of them, can I use it's key to activate an installation from an
>> >> english
>> >> DVD - I can get one off a friend who got it abroad?
>> >>
>> >> Or - alternatively - is there a place where I can just get a license
>> >> key
>> >> for
>> >> a full version? Windows marketplace obviously doesn't work outside the
>> >> US -
>> >> and they only have upgrade versions anyway. The only prior version of
>> >> Windows
>> >> I have on CD is Me, but I read somewhere that only xp and 2000 are
>> >> upgradeable.
>> >>
>> >> At the moment I'm running the RC. Is it possible to upgrade it with an
>> >> OEM
>> >> version, or will it have to be a clean install?
>>
>> I'm not sure but I don't think so. For XP the product key was language
>> specific.
>>
>> --
>> Rock [MVP - User/Shell]
>>
>>