Language Packs (lp.cab) and Windows Deployment
Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2
To design PCs that work better for customers in different regions, you can set up Windows with the right set of local languages, settings, and keyboards or other input devices.
Language packs for Windows
Language packs contain the text for the dialog boxes, menu items, and helpfiles that you see in Windows.
For some regions, language interface packs (LIPs) can provide additional translations for the most widely-used dialog boxes, menu items, and helpfile content. LIPs rely on a parent language pack to provide the remainder of the content.
Get language packs and LIPs
OEMs and System Builders with Microsoft Software License Terms can download language packs and LIPs from the Microsoft OEM site or the OEM Partner Center.
IT Professionals can download language packs from the Microsoft Volume Licensing Site.
After Windows is installed, end users can download and install additional language packs and LIPs from the Language Control Panel. For more information, see the Local Language Program.
Related information:
- Available Language Packs for Windows. Lists all of the supported language packs and LIPs for multiple versions of Windows, and their identifier codes.
Add languages to Windows
When you include more than one language or a LIP to Windows, your customers will be able to choose the language that best meets their needs during Windows OOBE.
There's a few different ways to install language packs:
How to add language packs to windows
You can add a language pack to Windows by using the Dism /Add-Package tool. See Add and Remove Language Packs on a Running Windows Installation or Add and Remove Language Packs Offline Using DISM.
To deploy a multilingual version of Windows by using Windows Setup (for example, a corporate image Windows DVD or a set of images available on a corporate network), you can add language resources to the installation program. See Add Multilingual Support to a Windows Distribution.
For corporate or network-based deployments, you may also need to update the Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) that users see when they choose how and where to install Windows to their PC. For more information, see WinPE: Mount and Customize.
After Windows is installed, end users can download and install additional language packs and LIPs from the Language Control Panel. For more information, see the Local Language Program.
Language packs for recovery tools
When things go wrong with the PC, Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) can help your users recover their system and data. When you update the available languages for Windows, update the available languages in the recovery tools: Customize Windows RE.
Prepare keyboards, time zones, and other regional settings
You can specify the default keyboard layout, language, or locale, either during deployment or after Windows is installed.
Windows Language Pack Default Values: Describes the default keyboard and time zones used in each language pack.
Default Input Locales for Windows Language Packs: Lists the keyboard hexadecimal and decimal identifiers used when configuring input locales.
Languages for apps
Many apps include support for multiple languages, though some require separate installation of language packs to work properly. Consult with the app developer.
In general, install all of your languages onto Windows before installing apps. This helps make sure that the language resource files are available for each of the available apps.
For more information, see Multilingual User Interface (Windows).