Media Center 2004 does not allow a UK postcode to be entered during first run configuration

Article ID: 555113 - View products that this article applies to.
Author: Mark Salloway MVP
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SYMPTOMS

After installing Media Center 2004 from an MSDN Subscription for development purposes, you may be unable to enter your United Kingdom (or other) postcode for guide configuration as the software is requesting the input of an American ZIP code.
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CAUSE

The computers system location has not been correctly set. Media Center uses the system location setting in order to differentiate settings for countries which are supported by the same version. This can then be used to request appropriate information from the user about the local environment.
 
In the case of the English edition, the system will be set to United States by default if you did not set the system location specifically during Windows XP setup. As a result Media Center will attempt to configure the software for use in the United States and use the ZIP codes rather than UK Postcodes.
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RESOLUTION

To correct this issue close Media Center and open your control panel as a user with administrator privileges. If you are using classic view for the control panel double click on the Regional and Language Options. In the Regional and Language Options select the combo box at the bottom under Location and select 'United Kingdom' (or other supported country). Apply this setting, restart your computer and then run Media Center again to continue first run configuration.
 
If you are using category view in the control panel you can see the Regional and Language Options by clicking 'Date, Time, Language and Regional Options', then 'Regional and Language options'.
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MORE INFORMATION

With the location set to the United Kingdom, an English version of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002 will always request a ZIP code because the United Kingdom is not a supported country in that version. In Media Center 2005 the user can select their region from within the Media Center user interface so setting the system location in Windows is not as essential.
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Properties

Article ID: 555113 - Last Review: May 18, 2005 - Revision: 1.0
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
Keywords: 
kbpubtypecca kbpubmvp kbhowto KB555113
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