Jul 22, 2011 13:02 GMT  ·  By

Windows 7 customers that upgraded to Service Pack 1 (SP1) and are looking to change the language of the user interface using Multilingual User Interface (MUI) packs, will still need to be running either the Enterprise or the Ultimate editions of the operating system.

Windows Language Packs are exclusive to the high end SKUs of Windows 7, and this detail did not change when Microsoft released SP1.

Furthermore, the MUI language packs can still only be accessed as updates for the operating system.

“Windows 7 Service Pack 1 language packs are available for computers that are running Windows 7 Ultimate Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows 7 Enterprise Service Pack 1 (SP1),” Microsoft said.

“The Windows 7 language packs can be installed only from the Optional Updates section in Windows Update. However, these language packs are not available on the Microsoft Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server or through the Microsoft Download Center.”

The software giant is also offering Language Interface Packs (LIPs), but these are limited in reach in comparison to MUI language packs, while still having very specific requirements, being available only in relation to a main language, as an added localization option.

“When you install a language pack, you can change the interface language of Windows 7 SP1 to the language that you select,” the Redmond company added.

“Language packs also let multiple users who share a computer select distinct display languages. For example, one user can select to see the dialog boxes, menus, and other text in Japanese, whereas another user can select to see the same content in French.”

I for one never understood the limitations in terms of localization that Microsoft imposes on Windows 7 users.

In fact, all there restrictions seem artificial to me, especially since Windows is being hailed as an international product.

I’ve already said it, and I’m going to repeat it now, MUI language packs need to be democratized with the advent of Windows 8.

With customers increasingly travelling abroad, and buying computers in different markets, changing the language according to their preferences should be a default feature, not a luxury.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM Build 7601.17514.101119-1850 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM are available for download here.

Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.