Windows 7 Language Packs
Last Feb Brandon posted a piece on Language Pack availability for Windows 7 here. I have had a lot of questions from IT pros in the past few weeks that are deploying Windows on where to find them so we thought we’d resurface this important topic and resources.
Windows 7 will continue to enable the widest range of people across the world to use Windows in their own language by providing Language Interface Packs in over 55 languages. LIPs are built using MUI technology and provide translation of the UI (User Interface) most commonly used by Windows users. LIPs do not require a separate software license. They are available to downloaded for free and installed on any edition of a Genuine copy of Windows 7: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate.
Because the entire UI is not translated, LIPs require that the base or parent language requirement be present on the machine before installation. After the LIP is installed and selected as the UI display language, the elements of the UI that are not translated into the LIP language will continue to be displayed in the base or parent language. Some LIP languages can be installed over more than one parent language. For example, the Catalan LIP can be installed over the Spanish or French language pack. The parent language requirements are specified on each LIP download center details page, and are also listed on the Windows Languages page here.
Here are some great resources to help you find out more about parent language requirements and language support for Windows 7, plus obtain step-by-step guidance on multilingual deployments: