Vista SP2: "Windows Has Detected Unsupported Language Files"

End users who are installing the second service pack for Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 can come across an error message informing them that the deployment has failed due to unsupported language files. Specifically the message displayed to users is “Windows has detected unsupported language files. To continue, obtain a version of service pack that supports the language files listed below. Or, uninstall the language files listed below and then restart the installation,” according to the Redmond company.

Microsoft explained that the problem was related to the installation scenarios in which the language version of the Service Pack 2 RTM bits were unsupported by the underlying localized flavors of Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 SP2. Starting on May 26, 2009, the software giant is offering the second service pack for Vista and Windows Server 2008 only in English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.

The existing standalone package Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 packages available from Microsoft are tailored only to the five supported languages. But additional SP2 localized releases are cooking, and will be offered in the coming months. Microsoft failed to indicate exactly when it planned to do so. “Additional packages that contain all 36 language versions of Windows Vista SP2 and of Windows Server 2008 SP2 will be available in the future,” Microsoft stated.

Users of localized versions of Vista and Windows Server 2008 have to wait for SP2 in the remaining languages to be offered. Exception to this rule make those running computers with the default system language either English, German, Spanish, French, or Japanese. In such a case, the language pack can be removed from the operating system, and SP2 installed with no problems. Vista SP2 was released to manufacturing on April 28, and is up for grabs for the public since May 26.

Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 – Five Language Standalone (KB948465) is available for download here.

Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 – Five Language Standalone for x64-based systems (KB948465) is available for download here.