Login Window Language change anomaly

[Sandy]

Hi All,
I am using PreStage Imaging for some new out of the box Macbook Airs.
I usually do five at a time, netboot, no erase, add a few packages and they reboot, enroll and get a few policies, all is good, except:
Randomly 1 or 2 out of 5 will change the language of the login window, and add a second language in the System Preferences> Language&Region
To fix I have to login, remove the extra language in SysPrefs and then sudo languagesetup to choose English.
If it happened all the time that would be one thing but it is so intermittent.
Even more fun, it does not even choose the same language... most often french, but sometimes Czech, and have seen others....
AND I saw this last year too, when we WERE doing a Prestage Image> wipe/image (to remove recovery from small HD student airs), different OS.
Anybody else seen this or have ideas?

[benshawuk · Accepted solution]

I've seen this too since El Capitan.
No fix (or understanding as to how it happens) sadly, but I work around it by having the "languagesetup" command in my build script.

[Lhsachs]

I know the solution using languagesetup - but am wondering if anyone else is having the issue of language changing after thin imaging... It isn't consistent - and the hardware isn't only MacBook Airs over here. Prior to a day or so ago, I would have said only on systems with AdobeCC - but our imager said it occurred on our base image.

Anyone else seeing this?

Thanks.

[rtrouton]

I've occasionally seen this issue on new Mac laptops when they come in from Apple. Right out of the box, around 2% are set to use French instead of US English.

I wrote up a post on this phenomena and how to change the language. It's available via the link below:

https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2016/06/03/changing-the-language-used-by-os-x/

[FastGM3]

So, I too just got slapped in the face with the Language issue when running first boot scripts on an out of the box computer running El Capitan.

I tried the languagesetup command on a computer and at first thought, (judging by the output in Terminal after the command) I thought it worked.

So I added the command line to my first boot scripts, only to find out after doing so the computer is not booting. I'm stuck in a loop black screen, flash of a white apple, then black screen over and over until I power the computer off.

Removing the command from the script, and re-imaging entirely fixes the problem.

However, that computer I first tested the command on was my production computer UGH. I didn't see the black screen white apple flash until startup this morning. I know, I know, I committed the ultimate sin running test commands on my production box (lesson learned). Does anyone have an idea how I can save this computer without a re-image?

Things tried so far. Reinstalled OSX (same issue on restart) Booted in single user mode, tried re-issuing the languagesetup no luck. Tried reset .AppleSetupDone and .RunLanguageChooserToo but that didn't help. That gets me to a grey screen and cursor.

Anyone else see this back screen white apple flah after running languagsetup? Any ideas on fixing without re-imaging?

Thanks,
Chuck

[makander]

I've seen this issue too, it's pretty odd and very inconsistent. I have around 2 or 3 machines that has this issue, all machines have been "imaged" the same way.

[CapU]

We always "Nuke and Pave". Get rid of any system weirdness that may have crept in over the semester.

[jmartin99]

@rtrouton thank you for that document! i've experienced this with a few new out of the box Macs and this came in very handy.