I managed to get a hold of one of the more recent MB WIS DVDs (5.34 gigabyte ISO), and finally got it to install, but for some reason whenever I select English as the language during setup, it installs it in German anyway. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions?

The installation program runs in English, but the WIS application itself (and other associated apps) run in German. The info is there, I just don't know what the hell it says.

Unfortunately, my reply will not assist you. I picked up a 5-CD set (off eBay) and have not been able to get it to work. The installation process occurs in English but as soon as I try to begin the Program Manager, I get a German login screen requesting a user name and password. The program is repeatedly trying to call out to the web - presumably for authentication. The WIS/ASRA portion of the software will not install at all.
It appears that we need to establish a user group for these products.

Hello Anthrax,
operating DC-licensed software you got to be a forgetful SD-Systemadministrator...
Start WIS, F2, go into "Sprachauswahl" and then set "Erste Prioritaet" to English and "Dokumente" also to English. Save it.
Are you shure you work for a dealer???

first if you havent done so already you will need to install the loop back adapter

1st) install the Microsoft loop back adapter
Please disable Firewall and disconnect from the Internet
Prior to installing, and until installation is complete.
Windows XP all other systems are similar
Go to the control panel, then to the add new hardware icon
When you double click it the welcome to the add hardware wizard will open.
Click next; windows will then search for new hardware.
Next the is the hardware connected window will open, select yes then next, scroll all the way to the bottom and select add a new hardware device then click next.
Then select install the hardware that I manually select from a list (advanced). Click next.
Scroll down to Network adapters select it and click next.
You will now select the Microsoft loopback adapter and click next; windows will now automatically install the software, when it is done click finish. The process is done.
after that here is the instalation for the wis program

2nd) Installing WIS Using the loop back adapter method
First refer to the installation instructions for the loop back adapter; it must be installed prior to any attempt to install this program. To avoid complications during installation please disable your screen saver.
If you are using windows XP home, you must change compatibility to windows 2000, you can do this at the setup icon by right clicking the setup icon and going to properties then to compatibility and selecting windows 2000.
Also after the second DVD is inserted it may appear as though set up has stopped responding, if the light on the DVD drive is flashing and the hard drive is active setup is still running, do not interrupt setup once it has begun.

Place the #1 WIS DVD in the DVD ROM drive, go to my computer and right click the DVD drive that contains the WIS disk. Right click it and select open, once it is open go to the WIS folder and double click it, after it opens, find the folder named WISINST and double click the folder, scroll down and locate the setup icon and double click the icon.
The screen will prompt you to select a language to use during set up, select the language that you prefer.
The next box that will appear will be a box that says this program from Mercedes Benz will now be installed on your computer, click next.
Set up should now tell you that no up to date PM (program manager) was detected on your system. This will not appear if you are upgrading a previous version of WIS, select yes to continue. Setup will now install the PM.
Set up will now prompt you to select a directory for install, it is recommended that you install to the hard drive that contains the windows system I recommend using C:\
The next window will say please select a program folder, use the recommended folder that was listed by setup and select next.
Setup will now install needed files and create some icon files for PM.
Setup will now ask “do you want to use the hard disk cache option?” select yes.
When the settings screen opens it is critical to the success of the installation to place a check mark by clicking on the box that are below the cache label, also under the label section you must specify where the “Rom” files will go, basically this can be anywhere on any active hard drive or partition that is large enough to hold them, after you finish select ok.
The next window that will open will be the Copy Rom File window, at the bottom left click start.
Setup will now copy all the needed files to the computer.
This is where the screensaver disable is important, if the screen saver or other windows opens it may appear as though the setup is not responding, under no circumstances should you attempt to exit, the little file transfer folders may even stop moving, but do not worry setup is still working, just allow it to run. Setup can take up to an hour to complete depending on your computer speed.
Insert the #2 DVD when Prompted.
After the files copy the install screensaver window will open, you can choose either option. For all following questions select no, after that click the button to restart.
Setup will create a user account called HP update Access Account, it requires a password and appears to be useless, and it can be deleted with no harmful result.
After restart allow computer to fully reboot, give it 5 min or so, it will need to finalize installation and other settings, once it is done you will need to install a license to make the WIS operational. The first step in this is to go to the windows start menu and under programs find the folder called Mercedes-Benz PM, click on the PM folder and a dialog box asking for a name and password will open, enter them as they are below,
Name: ADMIN
Password: ADMIN
No need to set cap lock as they will auto capitalize
After you enter them select weiter
Once the next window opens go to the first little square on the tool bar and click it, you should then see a icon called PMADM double click it, once the next window opens go to the little square on the tool bar that has a hand holding a little world it is the 4th one from the left and click it, once it opens select your preferred language from the list and click setzen.
Next click on the little box that shows a key a window will open, click where it says WIS to highlight the text, then click change, in order to obtain a key you will need to use the provided license program located on cd containing the installation instructions it is the program with the Mercedes Star Icon. Open it or copy and paste it to your desktop double click the star icon once open under application select WIS, then move to the LAN id block and enter the LAN id that is shown on the top of the license over view window, it is not case sensitive, once you enter it select generate, the key will appear on the space at the bottom, highlight the key by holding down the left mouse button and right click it and select copy, move over to where the key is to be entered and right click and select paste, the key will now be entered exactly as it appears on the generator.
Next step is to click save then back, some Dos windows will open let them do their thing before you continue, and when they are done you can now close all open windows.
This program will never expire, but you may have noticed an expiration date on the license screen, do not modify the date, or hi-light the space, if you do the license may be set to expire.
Next you will need to get the icon to open WIS; you will need to go to the following area on the C:\ drive
Open the C:\ drive double click the OPT folder then double click the MBCASE folder scroll down to the WIS folder and also double click it, find the BIN folder and double click it, after that scroll down and you will see a red WIS icon right click it and select send to then select Desktop (create shortcut) the icon will now appear on the desktop.
We are now at the final steps and they are as follows:
Double click the red WIS icon next click the button that says weiter click the next weiter and then click the Systemverwaltung button and then click the Sprachauswhal button, on the left box select English it is very important NOT to select us-English for this box, on the box on the right line #1 select English again, go to box #2 and scroll down and select us-English, now click the setzen button at the bottom all should now be in your language.
Now go to system configuration for the time category select hours, for region select domestic, for unit of measurement select miles or kilometers for non us shops, then click ok. Move the mouse to the button on the bottom right that says previous screen and click it, go to the box that says info box on the top and click it, on the next screen that appears you can search for your info by model, chassis, sales designation or VIN number. WIS is now operational.

if you need keys or any other help send me an email to mercedessd@cox.net

Thank you so, so much. Heh, I personally do not, but my uncle owns a well-reknown workshop in Austin, TX. He's not who I obtained these from, but this sure as hell saves me a lot of phone calls.

TBGeoff - username admin, password admin will get you into the PM (install it first). Once you're in, double-click the middle icon, then perform the steps as described above by Dokta. You'll be on your way.

I know I am, thanks guys.

And mysteriously, mine never sent an outbound internet authorization request. Weird, eh? I think it's from 01 or 02.

Many, many thanks gents. Carson -- generous of you to support product sold by someone else.