Trick to Install Windows XP SP3 RC in Non-English Language Editions
Microsoft releases Windows XP SP3 RC test build only in English edition. And Windows Update hack to install XP SP3 RC1 won’t show the service pack as an installable option. If users try to install the downloaded standalone installer package in non-English language version of XP, the setup will halt and respond with the following error message.
Service Pack 3 Setup Error
Setup cannot update your Windows XP files because the language installed on your system is different from the update language.
The solution is pretty obvious. If users able to hack and change system language, then it’s possible to fool and bypass the SP3 setup installer check on language requirement. The steps are pretty similar to trick used to install Vista SP1 on non-supported language Vista when all languages package not yet been released.
To change the system installed locale language, run Registry Editor, and then navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Nls\Language registry key, and then change the value date for “Default” and “InstallLanguage” registry value to “0409“, which represent US English.
Then, open Control Panel, and open Regional and Language Options. In Regional Options and Advanced tabs, set the language to English (US) as default format and language for non-Unicode programs. Click on “OK” when done, and then reboot the system.
Try to install the downloaded XP SP1 setup package. It should be able to install without any error now. If you still get the incompatible language prompt, try to restart computer into Safe Mode and try to install SP3 in Safe Mode.
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December 26th, 2007 01:54
Thank you very much. This trick works fine, but how can I extend indefinitely the trial evaluation of this service pack
December 26th, 2007 03:41
Just wait for final release of SP3, there won’t be any expiry date on it.
January 26th, 2008 04:49
I tried this method to upgrade WinXP SP2 (French) to SP3. It updated OK but when I booted into WINXP sp3 everything was in english. Everything remained in english after I put all the language settings back to French and rebooted too.
January 28th, 2008 00:12
Well, it did not worked here… (Hungarian laguage XP).
February 6th, 2008 01:13
Rechange the registry key to your language id and reset the language options to your previous settings after installed this SP