The keyboard itself is actually different if you purchase a computer "regionalized" for UK than for one purchased for the US.

You can map the keys to a different setup; but not all regionalized layouts can be easily mapped to all keyboards; and of course you can't change the "keycaps" so that you see the correct glyph on the keys.

For occasional use, you can use the "Character Map" (Start|Programs|Accessories|SystemTools|Character Map) to find a character you need.

The idiot method is to select the characters that aren't on the keyboard, which puts them into the "selected" box which you then copy and paste somewhere in another program from which you can copy and paste the individual characters where you want them.

In most cases, depending on the font selected, you can also read the "number value" for a character and use the Alt-NumPad method to insert that character in almost any Windows program. NumLock must be turned on. Hold down Alt while typing the decimal number on the number pad.

Alt-0163 should give you the pound (sterling) sign = £

You might also have a need for the euro, which on US regionalized keyboards is mapped as a "phony" Alt-0128 = €

For more exotic characters, the Char Map may show you a hexadecimal Unicode number. These can't readily be entered with the NumPad method, but in Word you can type the Hex Code, and with the cursor/insert point immediately on the right of the code you can use Alt-X to flip back and forth between the code and the character glyph. If the character glyph is shown in Word, you can usually copy it from there to paste it in another program that doesn't provide the Alt-X toggle feature.

For a sample, Char Map shows U+025A for a character. In Word you type 025A and press the Alt while hitting X to get ɚ. This method works in some other Office (and other Microsoft compatible programs) but is really consistent only in Word.

Ancient Microsoft KB article of possible interest:

How to change your keyboard layout KB 258824

And

Windows Keyboard Layouts

For the last one, you'll need to be able to read the new .mspx file format introduced with Vista/Office 2007, but the page should give you a link to download an "interpreter" if you need it. When you select a keyboard to view, the unshifted keys are shown in a popup. If you hover a mouse over the Shift, Alt, or Ctl keys on the popup keyboard the Bucky-bit characters will be shown.

A link at the above page tells you how to copy a layout, but you have to do it one layout at a time (with the mouse hovered appropriately), using Alt-PrtScn, Paste to a graphics program, and work from the pasted picture(s).

John