VS 2015 language pack offline installer

Question

_{Sunday, April 9, 2017 11:54 AM}

Hi,

I've installed VS 2015 German and want to install the English language pack. Nowadays, we are not allowed to use the browser to download what we want to download. Instead, we have to download one executable for every download we want to download. In this case it's called vs_langpack.exe. The problem is: every time we want to install the language pack, we have to download it again. I do not want this. An option is to use the "/layout" argument for vs_langpack.exe. This does create an offline installer, but even though I've chosen the English language for downloading vs_langpack.exe, the /layout switch downloads language packs for all supported languages. I do not want this. I've cancelled the download after a couple of Gigabytes and hours. Unfortunatelly, vs_langpack.exe does not support the "/lang" argument like other installers do - which would make most sense for a language pack installer - to limit the download to one language only.

So, how can I download only the English language pack onto my machine (the installer says 982 MB) so that I can reinstall it if necessary?

Armin

All replies (6)

_{Monday, April 10, 2017 12:18 PM ✅Answered}

Hi again,

maybe relevant: The download progressbar is at 100% after few minutes. Then I see it downloading "Optional items":

This takes "forever". I see the download directory growing to several gigabytes. As described, directories for several languages are being created.

EDIT: More information: After reaching 100%, the installer starts "2015 Language Pack - ENU\OfflineCache\installers\VSU_14.0.24720\en\0\VS2015.1.exe" which performs the additional downloads. I do not start it, it is started automatically by the installer. From process explorer:

The command line for VS2015.1.exe is

"C:\Users\Armin\Documents\2015 Language Pack - ENU\OfflineCache\installers\VSU_14.0.24720\en\0\VS2015.1.exe" /quiet /layout "C:\Users\Armin\Documents\2015 Language Pack - ENU\OfflineCache\installers\VSU_14.0.24720\en\0"

Actually, the "2015 Language Pack - ENU\Packages" sub directory is only 156 MB in size, too. Just like you've reported. However, most content is downloaded to "2015 Language Pack - ENU\OfflineCache". As the download is still in progress, it's ~900 MB in size and it will grow further.

If you look at the screenshot above, it seems it is save to cancel the installer, keep the vs_langpack.exe and the packages directory and discard the OfflineCache directory.

Armin

_{Sunday, April 9, 2017 11:44 PM}

Hi Armin,

I understand your needs.
But I'm afraid off-line installer of the English language pack is not supported/provided.
I tried to find it in MSDN subscription download, but in vain. I could found only web-installer.

Regards,
Hideki Ashida

_{Monday, April 10, 2017 6:41 AM | 2 votes}

Hi Armin,

Thank you for posting in MSDN forum.

I test with using /layout command to download the VS 2015 English language pack, as following steps:

1. Download the vs_langpack .exe from:

 https://www.microsoft.com/en-sg/download/details.aspx?id=48157

2. Run the /layout command to download full files and resource:

3. After the download completes, it creates the packages which include necessary files:

3.On my side, the package is about 156 MB:

4. You could copy the packages and vs_langpack to the machine which needs it, launch the .exe to perform a English pack installation.

Best Regards,

MSDN Community Support
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_{Monday, April 10, 2017 11:54 AM}

Hi Lana,

thank you for your reply. The steps you have described are the ones I have taken. In my case "vs_langpack.exe /layout" did not download a 156 MB package. Instead, I stopped it downloading after a couple of gigabytes. The destination directory contained several sub directories, one for each language like Korean, Japanese, etc.

Inside the VS 2015 IDE, there is the "international settings"  category. There is a "download additional languages" link that I've clicked. It opens "go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=659036&clcid=0x407", which redirects to "https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/download/details.aspx?id=48157". There, I've selected the "English" lanaguage and started the download. Then I started it with the "/layout" argument as described above.

Armin

_{Monday, April 10, 2017 1:11 PM}

Example:

However, as added in my previous post, if I only copy vs_langpack.exe and the packages directory (discarding the OfflineCache directory), i can install the language pack without a problem. So, problem solved - not knowing why it performs the additional download.

In general, Microsoft should change it's download policy again. In some environments, machines do not have internet access, or only L**ux machines on which a whatever.exe doesn't really work. I was happy yesterday that the latest Windows SDK is published with a direct link to an ISO image again.

Though, thanks for your support!

......

:-)

Armin

_{Monday, April 10, 2017 2:40 PM}

I understand your needs.
But I'm afraid off-line installer of the English language pack is not supported/provided.
I tried to find it in MSDN subscription download, but in vain. I could found only web-installer.

You can create an offline installer yourself as described. The problem was that it not only included the English language pack. Updated information in my later posts. The problem is solved. Though thanks.

Armin