Will foreign language XP install English?

I've browsed around the internet for some time and cannot find a conclusive answer to the question of whether or not a foreign language windows xp (Japanese in this case) will allow the user to install English as the main language - identical to an English copy of xp.

The reason I ask is that I am in search of a copy of xp but they are annoyingly expensive. I noticed a Japanese copy being sold 2nd hand a much lower price so if I can buy it and use it to install English I will have saved some cash.

 

As far as I'm aware no.
Any OS is in the language its sold.

There may be language packs about to give you basic English controls, but that's it.

Vista Ultimate has got free Microsoft language packs.

 

Yes I think you're right. Further searching after I posted this question here came up with the below thread. Looks as though the main windows language is unavoidably the foreign one.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f3/how-can-i-set-my-windows-xp-german-english-220452/

 

You can still use the key of the Japanese installation to install an English copy. All you have to do is find an English CD.

 

Aah, very interesting. So just to clarify, I have an english windows xp cd here that is currently in use with it's cd key. If I again use my english xp to install a copy of xp on a seperate computer I can use the Japanese key to activate that copy of xp? If that's the case it changes everything and the Japanese copy of xp is still a good deal.

 

Question is here - has anybody tried it?
My worry would be - Japan vs. US/UK = different continents.

 

As long as you use the correct edition it will work (i.e: Jap Home key with Eng Home edition or Jap Pro key with Eng Pro edition)

Yes I have, especially Japanese XP and _Vista editions. Key is not language dependent. At least not the OEM editions shipped with notebooks.

 

Thanks Phoenix. The opportunity is passed now (as of a few minutes ago) and I'm pretty annoyed. I was bidding on the Japanese xp copy in an online auction and some other guy must have seen the opportunity also and we were going head to head. I was stretching the auction out letting the 2min timer nearly run out before placing bids at the last moment and resetting the closing timer. Whoever it was, was infuriatingly determined and while watching youtube I let the timer tick to long and the auction closed. End price was about $52 USD. #$!@#$