Using BigFix To Install / Activate Language Packs on Windows 11

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Hello folks. Just wondering if anyone has been able to push a non-English language to a computer using BigFix. I realize this question is more about Windows (and MS support has been so unhelpful), but since BigFix people do scripts for a variety of automation… well, hoping someone has done this before. We used to have this working for W10 and is based on this online article:

On W11 it looks like things have changed and the things you need to DISM (add) are different. Here is what I am currently trying with BigFix (to add Spanish (MX):

dism.exe /norestart /online /add-package /packagepath:"c:\lp\Microsoft-Windows-Client-Language-Pack_x64_es-mx.cab"
dism.exe /norestart /online /add-package /packagepath:"c:\lp\Microsoft-Windows-LanguageFeatures-Basic-es-mx-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~.cab"
dism /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Language.Basic~~~es-mx~0.0.1.0 /Source:“c:\lp” /LimitAccess

This seems to go OK, but then the LP needs to be activated, which is done with an XML file and a call to control panel with this command:

control intl.cpl, /f:“W11_es-MX.xml”

A screenshot of the XML should have been uploaded to this post…

This activation does not seem to activate the language like it should. Any insight or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Edit… well, it did not look like the attachment uploaded, so here is the XML… didn’t really want to put it here for fear it would cause wonky things to happen with the post:

<gs:GlobalizationServices xmlns:gs="urn:longhornGlobalizationUnattend">

<!-- user list -->
<gs:UserList>
  <gs:User UserID="Current" CopySettingsToDefaultUserAcct="true" CopySettingsToSystemAcct="true"/>  
</gs:UserList>

<!-- user locale -->
<gs:UserLocale>
  <gs:Locale Name="es-MX" SetAsCurrent="true" ResetAllSettings="false"/>
</gs:UserLocale>

<!-- system locale -->
<gs:SystemLocale Name="es-MX"/>

<!-- GeoID -->
<gs:LocationPreferences>  
  <gs:GeoID Value="166"/>
</gs:LocationPreferences>

<gs:MUILanguagePreferences>
  <gs:MUILanguage Value="es-MX"/>
  <gs:MUIFallback Value="en-US"/>
</gs:MUILanguagePreferences>

<!-- input preferences -->
<gs:InputPreferences>
  <!-- es-MX -->
  <gs:InputLanguageID Action="add" ID="080a:0000080a"/>
  <!-- en-US -->
  <gs:InputLanguageID Action="remove" ID="0409:00000409"/>
</gs:InputPreferences>

</gs:GlobalizationServices>
2

Make sure to follow the instructions on the official webpage - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/add-language-packs-to-windows?view=windows-11#add-language-packs-lips-and-features-on-demand

After you completed the installation, look on the documentation about the configuration of the language and culture settings - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/add-language-packs-to-windows?view=windows-11#change-your-default-language-locale-and-other-international-settings

I think you should use the PowerShell Modules below to configure the Display Language , Culture etc… for the Current and New Users:

Some of them where not available on Windows 10

3

Thank you orbiton, I sincerely appreciate the information and links. I think I finally have this worked out. The procedure in the original post for the most part works, but you have to be mindful when doing this in BigFix (running as SYSTEM of course) where a user may or may not be logged it. Some PowerShell calls to Get-WinUserLanguageList gets you info on what is there, and subsequent PS code can properly set things up.

1 Like
4

Can you please share what you have done?
If that possible of course :slight_smile: