Komeil’s Persian Keyboard Layout (kbdfa.dll) and Installer for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

This old post describes why I needed to replace Microsoft Windows’ own Persian (Farsi) keyboard layout—kbdfa.dll.

Now for compatibility reasons with various 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, and the fact that x86 and x64 DLLs differ, I needed to rebuild my modded kbdfa.dll files.

Note: Click here for the updated version of this old article.[Updated June 10, 2009]

Installing my Persian (Farsi) keyboard layout in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008—with their system files’ ownership and permission modification requirements—seemed a little bit more bothersome comparing to the conventional Windows 2000/XP/2003 kbdfa.dll’s copy-and-replace method. So I was forced to write a command-line (CMD) installer, to ease the process.

Please note both the x86 and x64 compilations represent Persian numbers on the main section of the keyboard and Latin numbers on the numeric keypad.

Chortkeh Persian Keyboard Layout, Revision 3, November 4, 2008

Download Links [Updated December 19, 2015]

  • Download Chortkeh Keyboard Layout Installer for Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP and Windows Server 2016, 2012 R2, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008, 2003 (chortkeh-install-kbdfa.cmd, Revision 4, December 19, 2015)
  • Download Komeil’s Persian Keyboard Layout for Windows 32-Bit Family (x86) (kbdfa.dll, Revision 3, November 4, 2008)
  • Download Komeil’s Persian Keyboard Layout for Windows 64-Bit Family (x64) (kbdfa.dll, Revision 3, November 4, 2008)

Changelog [Updated December 19, 2015]

Last updated on December 19, 2015, chortkeh-install-kbdfa.cmd is a batch script that installs KBDFA.DLL in Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP and their Windows Server equivalents. This record lists all changes of the chortkeh-install-kbdfa.cmd releases:

Revision 4 (December 19, 2015)
  • Supported Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016
  • Supported backup creation of the original DLL prior to replacing the file through CreateBackup variable which is set to 1 by default. Change the value to 0 if you don’t want to create backup.
  • Changed granting the Administrators group full-access permissions to the file instead of the administrative user
  • Supported error message whenever it’s not being run as administrator
  • Improved error handling
  • Improved message handling with minimal command feedback
Revision 3 (November 4, 2008)
  • Supported soft library filename through KeyboardLayoutFileName variable which is set to KBDFA.DLL by default. Change the value to an appropriate DLL filename if you want to install a keyboard in another language.
  • Supported reason for the restart as Planned (Application Maintenance)
  • Improved error handling
Revision 2 (?)
  • Supported Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
Revision 1 (?)
  • Supported Windows XP and Windows Server 2003

How to Install

Download and save both the keyboard layout installer (chortkeh-install-kbdfa.cmd) and the Persian keyboard layout (kbdfa.dll) at the same folder, and run as administrator chortkeh-install-kbdfa.cmd. Then in the command-line you need to press “c” and hit “Enter” to continue with the installation. Please note once finished, the installer will restart your system, so save any unsaved work, and close running programs before launching the installer. Also please note you need to be an administrator to be able to modify system files.

فارسی

2 thoughts on “Komeil’s Persian Keyboard Layout (kbdfa.dll) and Installer for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*