Install a Language Pack to an Offline Image

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You can use Package Manager to install one or more language packs to an offline Windows image. This is the typical OEM scenario.

Note

Adding multiple language packs to a Windows image can significantly increase its size. A Windows image (.wim) file with several language packs can be several gigabytes larger than a single-language Windows image file. Installing large Windows images over the network can lead to longer installations.

To install a language pack with Package Manager

  1. Navigate to the language pack(s) to install in the Windows image. Language packs are stored in .cab files and are called Lp.cab.

  2. Use Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM) to create an answer file that contains only the language packs that you intend to install. To add a language pack directly to an answer file, see Add a Package to an Answer File. To add a language pack to a distribution share, see Import a Package to a Distribution Share.

  3. Save the answer file and close Windows SIM. The answer file must be similar to the following sample.

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
     <servicing>
          <package action="install">
               <assemblyIdentity name="Microsoft-Windows-LanguagePack-Package" version="6.0.6000.16386" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="fr-FR" />
               <source location="C:\LPs\fr-FR\lp.cab" />
          </package>
          <package action="install">
               <assemblyIdentity name="Microsoft-Windows-LanguagePack-Package" version="6.0.6000.16386" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="de-DE" />
               <source location="C:\LPs\de-DE\lp.cab" />
          </package>
     </servicing>
</unattend>

  4. Use ImageX to mount the Windows image that you intend to apply to the language pack. For example,

    imagex /mountrw C:\windows_distribution\sources\install.wim 1 C:\wim_mount

    The first Windows image in the Install.wim file is mounted to C:\wim_mount. For more information, see ImageX Command-Line Options.

  5. Use Package Manager to apply the unattended installation answer file to the mounted Windows image. For example,

    start /w pkgmgr /o:"C:\wim_mount\;C:\wim_mount\Windows" /n:"C:\unattend.xml"

    For more information about using Package Manager, see Package Manager Command-Line Options.
    The language pack is installed to the Windows image.

  6. If you are creating a Windows distribution, use Intlcfg.exe to recreate the Lang.ini file and select the default international values. When you add or remove language packs in a Windows image, you must recreate the Lang.ini file. The Lang.ini file is used during Windows Setup and contains a list of all available language packs, the locations of the language packs, and the default language to use during Windows Setup.
    For example, recreate the Lang.ini file for a Windows distribution with the following command.

    intlcfg -genlangini -dist:C:\windows_distribution -image:C:\wim_mount –defaultlang:fr-FR –all:fr-FR

    If you are creating a Windows image, then you do not need to recreate the Lang.ini file. However, you can specify the default language of the Windows image by using the Intlcfg command. For example,

    intlcfg -image:C:\wim_mount –all:fr-FR

    The Lang.ini file is recreated and includes a list of the installed language packs. Additionally, the default language to use during Windows Setup and the default language of the Windows installation are set to fr-FR.

  7. Report the languages that are available or installed to the Windows image by using the -report option for the Intlcfg command. For example,

    intlcfg -report -dist:C:\windows_distribution -image:C:\wim_mount

    If you are creating a Windows image, then you can omit the –dist option. For example,

    intlcfg -report -image:C:\wim_mount

  8. Unmount the .wim file and commit the changes. For example,

    imagex /unmount /commit C:\wim_mount

    The Windows image is ready to be deployed.

To change the language that is used during Windows Setup, you must add the Windows Setup localized resources to the Windows distribution. For more information, see Add a Language to Windows Setup.

See Also

Concepts

Add a Language Pack to a Windows Image