Installing a US Windows7 in an EU country

[whs]

I always buy my stuff that I need on my German systems in the US. I plan to do the same with Windows7 - buy an OEM license from NewEgg. But with the EU/Opera mess regarding browsers, I wonder whether they will activate a Win7 from the US on my German system. Has anybody already done that and did it work?

 

[Zepher]

If it fails then you could probably use a US based Proxy server.

 

[sygnus21]

Hmmm...that's a good question, and one i'd like to know the answer to as well?

My way of thinking - I'm retired military. Point is we still have troops stationed in Germany and I'm sure those troops have bought Windows 7 because the military exchange sells them; and I'm quite those who bought the OS had it activated from there (Germany). And I know they all don't live on base so I would guess it's possible, how, I don't know.

I don't know anyone stationed in Germany now, so I can't help with your question. But do let me know what you find out.

Thanks

 

[whs]

If it fails then you could probably use a US based Proxy server.

Yeah, that was my fallback solution - also since the wife wanted to watch her sods on CBS and ABC that are blocked in Europe.

 

[Kari]

You are going to have absolutely no problems. ATM, I'm running two US Seven's at home and four at work, have never had a problem with installation.

I buy all my non-German OS's and software in Finland, for private and work. Although bought outside USA, they are completely normal US editions. They run perfect, being a foreign edition brings no problems.

The EU browser ballot has nothing to do with installation; it comes when you do the first update but only if you have IE as the default browser. To avoid this ballot completely, you just have to do two things: first, when Windows installation asks if you would like to connect to Internet to get the latest updates before installing, answer NO. Second, as soon as the Windows is installed, before you let it install any updates, download and install any browser other than IE and set it up as your default browser. This way you never see the ballot.

Even if you choose to let Windows installation to connect to Internet, or you like to use IE as a default browser thus causing the browser ballot to appear, you have nothing to worry. It's just a a browser ballot, nothing more. As I mentioned, it has nothing to do with installation, or which national or language edition you install. Any Windows installed on any computer which the IP shows is physically located in the EU at that moment of the installation, get's this ballot. But, as I said, only if the IE is the default browser.

Confusing? Believe me, it's not. It's quite straight forward.

Kari

EDIT: For your wife's CBS & ABC needs: http://hotspotshield.com/, I'm using it to watch Hulu :



This one does not need any proxys: http://pages.tvunetworks.com/watchTV/index.html

 

[whs]

Kari, thank you very much for the information. That is very useful and clears it up - and the wife will be happy too.

 

[Snoopy Renegade]

I always buy my stuff that I need on my German systems in the US. I plan to do the same with Windows7 - buy an OEM license from NewEgg. But with the EU/Opera mess regarding browsers, I wonder whether they will activate a Win7 from the US on my German system. Has anybody already done that and did it work?

Yes, i live in Holland and i i picked up a Windows 7 Home Edition in California over the Christmas and it works great!

 

[whs]

Thanks Snoopy, that's reassuring.

 

[severedsolo]

UK denizen, US copy of windows (just cause it was cheaper....) there is no difference