Installing Project 4.1 Breaks Office 97 Spelling Checker

• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Outlook 97
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Project for Windows 95, versions 4.1, 4.1a

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to use the spelling checker in any of the programs listed at the beginning of this article, you may receive one of the following error messages:

• Out of memory.
• The custom dictionary is full. The word was not added.
• Cannot open main dictionary.
• Cannot read custom dictionary.
• Cannot open dictionary. Try reinstalling the spelling checker, run Microsoft Project setup from your Microsoft Project disks.
• Winword caused an Invalid Page Fault in module MSSP32.DLL
• Cannot read memory.
• The version of the spell checker does not understand the language formatting of the custom dictionary.

CAUSE

If you installed Microsoft Project for Windows 95 after you installed Microsoft Office 97 for Windows, some of the Windows 95 Registry settings were changed to files that do not function correctly with Office 97 programs.

WORKAROUND

To workaround this problem, use one of the following methods:

Run Setup

Run the Office 97 Setup again. After the Setup program starts and you receive the "Welcome to the Microsoft Office 97 installation maintenance program" message, click Reinstall. The Setup program will correct the registry settings automatically, and will also replace any files that were not installed during the previous setup.

You can also run Setup using the command line setup switch "/y" (without the quotation marks). For information on using command line switches, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q158503
   TITLE     : OFF97: Setup Switches for Microsoft Office 97

Modify Incorrect Registry Keys

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

1. Quit all Office 97 programs.

2. click the Start button, and click Run.

3. In the Open box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks), and click OK. This will open the Windows 95 Registry.

4. In the registry window, open the following key:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\
         Proofing Tools\Spelling\1033\Normal
   

   This is where you will find the Dictionary and Engine keys.

5. Click the Dictionary key to select it. On the Edit menu, click Modify. In the Edit String dialog, change the String Value to

         C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof\MSSP2_EN.LEX
   

   then click OK.

6. Click the Engine key to select it. On the Edit menu, click Modify. In the Edit String dialog box, change the Value Data to

         C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof\MSSP232.DLL
   

   then click OK.

7. On the Registry menu, click Exit. The Windows 95 Registry automatically saves your changes.

Create A New Custom Dictionary

1. Rename the old custom dictionary file. For example, change Custom.dic to Custom.old.

2. Start Microsoft Word 97.

3. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Spelling & Grammar tab.

4. Click Dictionaries.

5. Click New.

6. In the File name box, type a name for the custom dictionary; for example, Custom.dic.

7. Click Save.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.