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I want to purchase a Windows 8 upgrade through the Microsoft Store. When I visit the store, I get forcibly redirected to its German incarnation (probably because I am in Germany). However, I can only select another language when selecting the option to get a DVD sent to me (which is 30 EUR more expensive):

"Englisch" under "Produktsprache?"

If I selected the "Download" option, I would be forced to get a German version:

language choice field is grayed out for downloads

So is there a way to purchase another language as download (in my case it'd be English)?

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  • Try an US SSL web proxy?(only for the purchasing part) never tried though
    – page4096
    Oct 29, 2012 at 22:46
  • Could you please provide the link to this store? Oct 29, 2012 at 23:08
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    I think this is it: microsoftstore.com/store/mseea/de_DE/pdp/productID.256400400 but "Download starten" links to windows.microsoft.com/buy with no country code or is it just me?
    – page4096
    Oct 29, 2012 at 23:10
  • This is a good question, but after reading it a couple times, I realized it wasn't a good fit for SU. You could replace Windows 8 in the question with any product, and have basically the same question. You're asking about how to use a specific website, which is off-topic here, regardless of the product you're trying to buy. I'm glad you found a satisfactory workaround, though.
    – Pops
    Nov 8, 2012 at 21:47

4 Answers 4

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I believe all versions of Windows 8 comes with a Language Pack. You can download the German or English version and then select the desired language once you've booted the installer.

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_8_editions

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  • Correct, see this section "switch languages on the fly"....see this
    – Moab
    Oct 30, 2012 at 2:47
  • It appears only China and a small set of select emerging markets will have regional restrictions....see this
    – Moab
    Oct 30, 2012 at 2:48
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    Moab, language packs are something you install after installing Windows in a particular language (like you could with Windows 7 Enterprise). This still leaves certain things in the original language, e.g. symlinks in the file system.
    – Joey
    Oct 30, 2012 at 6:52
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I ended up downloading the Upgrade Advisor from the US English store site. Payment was done through a German company within the upgrade, but I indeed ended up with a UK English Windows, which is close enough to comfortable for me.

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  • This happened to me as well. My Windows is US English, I ran the Upgrade Assistant in Spain, and what I ended up with is UK English. Not exactly what I intended. I'd like to know if it's possible to select the language without having to resort to installing language packs. I'm thinking maybe a VPN tunnel with an IP from USA might do the trick. Nov 24, 2012 at 15:02
  • Well, 150 MiB of additional download and a reboot doesn't hurt too much, I guess.
    – Joey
    Nov 25, 2012 at 9:59
  • Download size has nothing to do. I just want things to be as streamlined as possible; the less I have to do to setup a computer, the better. Besides, installing a language pack doesn't render the same result as installing Windows in the desired language directly. At least in my experience, some things -like text in the welcome screen for example- remain in the original language, even after specifically making the desired language the default. Nov 26, 2012 at 15:41
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This might be an ugly workaround, but it will work: download the English Windows 8 from thepiratebay or some other P2P, and buy the German version in the store, and use THAT key when you install the English Windows 8 from your bootable usb. It's just as fast, if not faster- I've used Microsoft's secure download manager, even had issues with them, so that's the way I solved my problem with OBTAINING Windows 8. My product key, however is perfectly legit, so I'm not advocating piracy ;)

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  • definitely ugly and possibly illegal depending on where you live.
    – Moab
    Oct 30, 2012 at 2:42
  • There's no guarantee those files are unaltered. You could be downloading embedded malware for all you know.
    – Bob
    Nov 8, 2012 at 21:52
  • @Bob You could check the sha1 with the MSDN website.
    – kinokijuf
    Feb 1, 2013 at 11:06
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    @Moab The key is what makes Windows legal.
    – kinokijuf
    Feb 1, 2013 at 11:07
  • @kinokijuf a lot of pirated copies have embedded activation cracks which will throw off hash checking. Also, a hash collision is possible, though difficult. That's all ignoring questionable legality.
    – Bob
    Feb 1, 2013 at 11:36
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You have to follow some simple steps in your control panel.Check out here... http://www.youngnerves.com/tag/windows-8-language-support/

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  • Already known and suggested in the comments. The actual reason why this is a poor solution is noted in some comments as well.
    – Joey
    Mar 2, 2013 at 16:59

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