Solved Different distro language doesn't allow in-place upgrade keeping personal files and apps

WindR said:

If windows Fully localized language

Code:

dism /online /get-intl


Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.22621.1

Image Version: 10.0.22621.1848

Reporting online international settings.

Default system UI language : ru-RU
The UI language fallback is : en-US
System locale : ru-RU
Default time zone : Russian Standard Time
Active keyboard(s) : 0409:00000409, 0419:00000419
Keyboard layered driver : PC/AT Enhanced Keyboard (101/102-Key)

Installed language(s): en-US
  Type : Fully localized language.
Installed language(s): ru-RU
  Type : Partially localized language, MUI type.
  Fallback Languages en-US

differs from the language of target image

Code:

WIM Information:
----------------
Path:           D:\sources\install.esd
GUID:           0xfe75207ec17c6f48aaaee3e44544802e
Version:        3584
Image Count:    3
Compression:    LZMS
Chunk Size:     131072 bytes
Part Number:    1/1
Boot Index:     0
Size:           3016907646 bytes
Attributes:     Relative path junction

Available Images:
-----------------
Index:                  1
Name:                   Windows 11 Home
Description:            Windows 11 Home
Display Name:           Windows 11 Home
Display Description:    Windows 11 Home
Directory Count:        29462
File Count:             115525
Total Bytes:            17036840607
Hard Link Bytes:        7779694599
Creation Time:          Sat May 07 11:29:17 2022 UTC
Last Modification Time: Fri Jun 30 07:38:55 2023 UTC
Architecture:           x86_64
Product Name:             Microsoftо Windowsо
Edition ID:             Core
Installation Type:      Client
Product Type:           WinNT
Product Suite:          Terminal Server
Languages:              en-US ru-RU
Default Language:       ru-RU
System Root:            WINDOWS
Major Version:          10
Minor Version:          0
Build:                  22631
Service Pack Build:     1972
Service Pack Level:     0
Flags:                  Core
WIMBoot compatible:     no

A choice to keep personal files and apps is unavailable.
An old registry tweak of changing HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Nls\Language\InstallLanguage doesn't work since 20h1.

Anyone has a clue how to fix this issue?

Click to expand...

I think your only choice is to update in ENG-US and then switch back to RU. There's no problem when only a Language pack is available e.g isl there's no native install of Windows in isl.

Another possibility is to look at the locale setting when you run bcdedit on the boot loader. You can then change that.

Cheers
jimbo

Repair iA choice to keep personal files and apps is unavailable.

• WindR said:

  An old registry tweak of changing HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Nls\Language\InstallLanguage doesn't work since 20h1.
  
  Anyone has a clue how to fix this issue?

  Click to expand...

  Repair install requirements:
  • You will only be able to perform a repair install of Windows 11 from within Windows 11. You will not be able to perform a repair install at boot or in Safe Mode.
  • The Windows 11 installation media (ISO or USB) must be the same edition, same version, and same or higher build as the currently installed Windows 11.
  • The Windows 11 installation media (ISO or USB) must be for the same language as your currently installed Windows 11.

Otherwise, you can't keep personal files and apps

This is a known issue. You must download the ISO in the installed (original) language not that of the language pack. In your case this is "English" for US English. Beware "International English" is UK English which doesn't match the US English. I learnt that the hard way... After the upgrade you just reinstall the language pack to change the display language.

MDL forum member Stripakulina offered the working solution.
The key moment is to /Set-SKUIntlDefaults to match the target image language.