Two weeks ago I finally installed Microsoft Windows 8 Enterprise on my main work laptop, as I had been waiting until after we got a chance to upgrade our install of System Center 2012 to SP1 for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 support. Four days after the installation, I downloaded the Remote Server Administration Tools ( RSAT ) for Windows 8, and ran the installer package. Everything seemed to go fine, if a bit quick, but when I checked, the tools were not installed.
After some digging around, I found that other people were having the same problem, but only when Windows 8 was installed with a language other than English. I had installed Windows 8 Enterprise English International, with English ( United States ) as the display language, but it seems the fix is the same:
- Download the Windows 8 Language Pack ISO from the Microsoft Volume Licensing Center, TechNet or MSDN.
- x86: mu_windows_8_language_pack_x86_dvd_917546.iso
- x64: mu_windows_8_language_pack_x64_dvd_917544.iso
- Mount the ISO in Windows 8 simply by double-clicking on it.
- Install the Language Pack using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management ( DISM ) tool from the command prompt, adjusting the drive letter, as required.
- dism /online /add-package /packagepath:G:languagepacksen-uslp.cab
- Once the DISM tool finishes the install, the Windows 8 RSAT tools will install correctly.
A few things to note: Even though I installed Windows 8 using English ( United States ) I still installed the en-US language pack to fix the problem. I confirmed with a colleague who installed the non-international version of Windows 8 Enterprise English that he had no problems installing the RSAT for Windows 8. Finally, I was not able to simply download and install the en-US Language Pack from the GUI, as it was already listed as installed.
One would like to think that Microsoft will fix this soon. Until then, here is Da Vinci’s Notebook, and some very nice animation from Midori Productions with a music video for “The Gates.”