MS Word 97 spell check disabled

[mattman]

Hello,
The spell check is grayed out and the documents I want to check for spelling
are not able to be. Could someone give me a hand with this?
Thanks,
Matt

[garfield-n-odie]

See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=257643 "WD97: Spelling, Grammar
Not Available in Word Running on Window 2000 or Windows XP".

[mattman]

I am running Windows 98. So this doesn't quite help me. Any other suggestions?

[mattman]

I am running Windows 98, so this doesn't quite tackle it. Any other ideas for
this?
Thank you!

[garfield-n-odie]

Is the spellcheck feature installed?

[mattman]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. I have used Word on my computer for
years having no problem with the spell checker, but then recently I noticed
that it was not working as words were still misspelled after I ran it. The
option boxes (for checkmarks) are all grayed out under the 'Spelling &
Grammar' tab for the spelling, yet the boxes are functional for the grammar
options. Does this answer your question?
Matt

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?bWF0dG1hbg==?=,

Hmmm. My best guess, in this case, is that something in the spell check engine
(DLL) may have become damaged. Try this:
- Do a search for files matching this pattern: mssp*.dll
- Note down the path and folder
- Control Panel/Add-Remove programs
- Choose Office 97, and that you want to CHANGE the existing installation
(Note you'll need your original installation CD)
- Drill down in the components listings for the Office proofing tools
- Remove the checkmarks next to everything
- Click "OK", so that Setup (theoretically) removes the spelling files
- Check the proofing tools folder again. If there are still *.lex or *.dll
files in there, MOVE them to another folder
- Repeat the "change setup" steps again, this time activating the checkboxes
for the components you want to have

With any luck, Setup will think the spelling (and grammar) check has never
been installed before, and reinstall the original files from the CD.

> I have used Word on my computer for
> years having no problem with the spell checker, but then recently I noticed
> that it was not working as words were still misspelled after I ran it. The
> option boxes (for checkmarks) are all grayed out under the 'Spelling &
> Grammar' tab for the spelling, yet the boxes are functional for the grammar
> options.
>

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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