Install available language template packs (SharePoint Server 2010)
Applies to: SharePoint Server 2010
Before you can upgrade any sites that are based on a language pack for the previous version, you have to install the language pack for the new version.
In this article:
About installing language packs and upgrading sites
About changing languages
Moving from a fully localized product to a language pack
Changing languages to a new language pack
About installing language packs and upgrading sites
If you want to install a language pack for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, do so after running Setup and before running the SharePoint Products Configuration Wizard. This way, you can upgrade any sites based on a language pack for a previous version along with the other sites during the upgrade process. For more information about installing language packs, see Deploy language packs (SharePoint Server 2010) in the Deployment Guide.
You can also install a language pack after you have run the SharePoint Products Configuration Wizard, and after you have upgraded the sites in your environment that are not based on a language pack. If you choose this option, you must then use the PSConfig command-line tool to upgrade the sites based on the newly installed language pack.
About changing languages
Generally, a cross-language upgrade is not supported. You must upgrade from and to the same language. For example, if you are running U.S. English in the previous version, you need to upgrade to U.S. English in the new version. If you want to change languages, you must first perform the upgrade and then change the language for the site.
However, this process is complicated in some cases — for example, when the previous version had a fully localized product for a particular language but the new version only has a language pack, or when the new version has a language pack for a new language that was not available in the previous version.
Moving from a fully localized product to a language pack
Use the following procedure on each Web server to upgrade from a language that was supported with a fully localized product in the previous version, but that is only supported by a language pack in the new version:
To move from a fully localized product to a language pack
Verify that the user account that is performing this procedure is a member of the Farm Administrators SharePoint group.
Choose a language to install for the new version (for example, English). This is the language that the SharePoint Central Administration Web site will use.
In the SharePoint Products Configuration Wizard, when you are prompted to install language packs, stop the wizard and install the appropriate language pack.
If you had additional previous-version language packs installed, install the corresponding SharePoint Server 2010 language packs now by canceling the wizard, and then running the appropriate Setup programs to install the language packs.
Note
You must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer to perform this step.
For more information about installing language packs, see Deploy language packs (SharePoint Server 2010) in the Deployment Guide.
Start the configuration wizard again to complete the upgrade process.
Changing languages to a new language pack
Use the following process to upgrade from a language in the previous version to a different language in the new version (for example, if the language you want was not available in the previous version, but is now available as a language pack in the new version).
To change languages to a new language pack
Verify that the user account performing the next two steps is a member of the Administrators group on the local computer.
Upgrade to the new version in the same language that you used for the previous version.
After the upgrade is complete, install the new language pack.
Verify that the user account performing the next two steps is a member of the Farm Administrators SharePoint group.
Create new sites based on the new language pack.
Manually move your content to the new sites.
See Also
Concepts
Deploy language packs (SharePoint Server 2010)
Other Resources
Downloadable book: Upgrading to SharePoint Server 2010
Resource Center: Upgrade and Migration for SharePoint Server 2010