Solved SKY GO in UK fails when lang not UK Eng

Hi folks
Why does SKY GO in the UK fail if you have a Windows display language other than UK ENG -- even if you are using within the UK a PC with region etc changed to UK.

It fails even if lang is US ENG. It works only it seems with UK ENG - even if the OS is installed on a vhdx or even a VM (although it's sluggish watching a UHD 4K sports event via SKY GO on a VM. !!). It still fails even if you change the locale in the boot manager via bcdedit to GB.

Peversely if you've installed a copy of Windows whose primary (default) language is in one of those directly supported by Windows e.g German etc it works - so the app seems to hate it when secondary languages are used that are not UK ENG.

Surely if the legitimate subscription has been paid and one is in the originating country why should ANY app fail to work if one uses any language whatsoever on your Windows desktop.

Having desktops in different languages IMO is fine and much better than having to re-install Windows a load of times or having a single W11 instance with a load of different languages installed. Can get very messy especially if using a computer for work in different countries where you might want or use different applications too.

Geo-blocking while I am against it I can understand but blocking an app merely because the user decides to use a language other than standard UK Eng on his / her desktop can't be correct. No point phoning the "Helpless desk" either unless you want a 2 hr wait for some body at the other side of the planet whom you can barely understand and hasn't got a clue what the problem is.

Cheers
jimbo

Hi Jimbo,

Do you have the same problem with IPlayer,
suspect the software takes the info from the "locale" thats present
(msinfo32)

Im currently watching Torchwood on it, hehe

One thing that comes to mind and assumes that @torchwood is correct about the Locale setting.

When you are initially setting up Windows, I am assuming that you would install in your Native Icelandic language and then add the alternates such as english - Sky Go may be referencing the first locale set. when you get time you could try installing english as your Primary and then add Icelandic as a secondary language (should not be needed, but to be honest I have never seen Sky as Being very Multicultural)

barman58 said:

One thing that comes to mind and assumes that @torchwood is correct about the Locale setting.

When you are initially setting up Windows, I am assuming that you would install in your Native Icelandic language and then ad the alternates such as english - Sky Go may be referencing the first locale set. when you get time you could try installing english as your Primary and then add Icelandic as a secondary language (should not be needed, but to be honest I have never seen Sky as Being very Multicultural :

Click to expand...

There's no Icelandic "Native" install for windows in ISL -- you have to add the lang pack afterwards -- I usually install especially via the insider programs or iso via UUPDUMP and create via dism/exe /Apply-Image the UK ENG version and then fiddle about with the languages afterwards. Once you've changed the display language it then goes bonkers !!!!!!

Anyway I've got a decent "Untouched" version of W11 in UK ENG on a Win to Go external USB -- that works OK -- I just use it for that single app !!!.

This boot works :




The others change to en-US or IS-IS and still fail if you via bcdedit change the boot local to en-gb.

I would never have thought the sky app would even know or where to look for locale but just check the subscribers account and the isp address so as to comply with "rights" stuff.


Thats another decent side effect of using vhdx files -- easy to set up minimal W11 installs with just the apps you want on them over the standard default stuff - usually just a browser, and a couple of apps. If using SKY GO I;ve got the PC plugged into a monitor so I'm not doing anything while watching. It takes literally secs to re-boot from vhdx files these days !! That's one thing Ms has got right recently. You still can't update to a newer build from a WintoGo type system though - but there are ways to solve that issue too.

I basically want theSKY GO stuff for the sports !! including the Test matches.

Love it when the people from the USA say - well you've had the Test match --when does the real one start !!

I'll mark this as fixed as it's inherently not a Windows problem but something with the SKY app. Funny thing is that the app works on a phone without problem but casting to a 4K monitor from a phone for a days worth of sport isn't a good idea !!!!

@torchwood

I use another app for BBC programs -- it can download the programs which I then stream to an amazon firestick via KODI which I've installed on the firestick.

I notice though in the UK the apps both Tunein and Radio garden block non UK (FREE) radio stations - you need a VPN to avoud that. I quite like the Flemih classical musiv station from Brussels (VRT-KLARA) - no ads and quite decent music if you like classical.


Cheers
jimbo