AppSense - Set the system language for users on logon

Hello,

some of our new VDI users want to have their system language/program language in English-UK. Our Windows 7 SP1 Masterimage hast German as default installation language and default location. So these are the steps required for making it multilanguage compatible.

1. Install the Windows 7 SP1 Language Pack for English which are listed here: http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-sp1-mui-language-packs-official-direct-download-links/
2. Install the Office Language Pack. You will be able to download it via the licensing portal or you could buy it directly from Microsoft if you do not have an enterprise agreement.
3. Check the other applications you have installed for multilanguage features. Here are some examples of mine:
1. Adobe Reader: You could set Adobe Reader 9/X with a registry key that it takes the language from the user account. See it here:  http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/controlling-reader-mui-startup-language.html
2. 7-Zip: You could set the language to English with the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\7-ZIP
   ValueName: Lang
   ValueType: REG_SZ
   Value: en
4. To make the setting of the language silenty on login the first thing you have to do is to make a language XML file where you configure your settings. See some information on this here, here and here. When you are done with this than copy the file to a central location or in your master image.
5. Now I am making a new logon action where I am first checking if the OS is Windows 7 or Windows 2008R2 because this way is only supported from Windows Vista upwards. Then I am checking for a security group where all English Speaking Users are grouped into and then we are doing the "magic" with a custom execute action where we firing up the control panel item for "Regions and language" and do a silent import of our before created XML file. Even more I am setting two group policy objects to restrict this user only to English as language.

The rest of the configuration for Office, Adobe Reader, 7-Zip and so on I am doing with process started triggers for faster logon times.

Best Regards,

michael.obernberger