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Windows MUI Knowledge Center

Here you can find technical information about Windows Multilingual User Interface (MUI) as well as general information about Windows Language Packs and Language Interface Packs (LIPs).

Featured Articles RSS

Language Packs in Windows 7Language Packs in Windows 7

This document describes the characteristics of the different language packs that Microsoft provides for Windows 7. It provides information on the parts of the product that are localized, the licensing considerations that apply, and the availability depending on the language pack type. Also covered are the localization differences between a localized version of Windows and one after a language pack has been installed.

Understanding Multilingual DeploymentsUnderstanding Multilingual Deployments

This section of the WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit) describes the language packs available in Windows 7 and the multilingual deployments scenarios supported in Windows 7.

Step-by-Step: Multilingual Image Creation in Windows 7Step-by-Step: Multilingual Image Creation in Windows 7

This white paper, targeted at IT professionals working on Windows image deployments, describes the step-by-step process to create a multilingual Windows 7 image for international deployment scenarios.

Handling Indirect StringsHandling Indirect Strings

Learn how to use registry string redirection with MUI, to use the registry in a language-neutral fashion.

Handling Event LogsHandling Event Logs

Multilingual design considerations for publishing event descriptions to the Event Log.

Handling Group PoliciesHandling Group Policies

Multilingual design considerations for managing group policy files.

Localizing WMI classesLocalizing WMI classes

Learn techniques for localizing WMI class information, by separating language-neutral and language-specific versions of the class definition.

MUI on TechNet

Deploying MUI in Vista:  Instructions for building a custom multilingual installation of the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.
Windows XP Professional MUI Options:  Similarities and differences between the Microsoft Windows XP Multilingual User Interface Pack and localized versions of Windows XP Professional.

MUI on MSDN Discussion Groups

microsoft.public.win32.programmer.international
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup
Search for MUI posts on discussion groups  (Suggested keywords: MUI, multilingual, Language Pack, LIP, Resource localization, UI language, Language fallback)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Understanding LIPs:  Frequently asked questions related to Windows Language Interface Packs.
  • MUI prior to Vista:  MUI support available on Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 MUI.
  • MUI Run-Time Diagnostics:  Compilation of information about resource location and language settings for Multilingual Resource Languages (MUI) technology.

Presentations      RSS

Writing world-ready apps for Windows 7
This session at the 2008 Professional Developers Conference introduces the Extended Linguistic Services API and also covers the Multilingual User Interface (MUI) technology inside Windows 7. In particular it walks you through an end-to-end look at how to make your application MUI-enabled. The MUI section of the presentation starts at Slide 17.

Writing Win32 MUI apps for Vista
This presentation provides an overview of Windows Vista MUI support and how to develop Win32 MUI apps for Vista.