PC Win: Setup Does Not Change Language for Speller

• Microsoft Mail for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b, and 3.2

SYMPTOMS

If you install version 3.0, 3.0b, or 3.2 of Microsoft Mail for Windows, with the spell checking facility for one language, then install Mail with the spell checking facility for another language, spell checking will not work. If you try to check spelling in a message, Mail for Windows reports an error in loading the spell checker.

CAUSE

The Mail for Windows SETUP.EXE program adds or updates country information for the Spelling entry in the [Proofing Tools] section of WIN.INI, but does not update the [Proofing Tools] section in the MSMAIL.INI file.

As a result, the MSMAIL.INI Spelling entry retains an outdated language setting if you re-install.

RESOLUTION

Find the correct language number under Spelling entry in the Proofing Tools section of WIN.INI and insert it under Spelling entry in the Proofing Tools section of MSMAIL.INI. Restart Mail for Windows.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in versions 3.0, 3.0b, and 3.2 of Microsoft Mail for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

When you install Mail for Windows with spell checking for a different language over a previously installed Mail, Mail checks the current MSMAIL.INI to see if it contains a Spelling entry. If an entry already exists, Mail leaves it intact as an existing valid value. When you install a new language, Mail detects the discrepancy between the entry you want and the current WIN.INI entry, so it writes the new WIN.INI Spelling entry. But Mail still considers the existing entry in the MSMAIL.INI to be correct, and does not update the MSMAIL.INI entry.

When you install the United Kingdom version of Mail for Windows over the USA version, the Mail spell checker appears to work, but it uses the USA English dictionary, not the UK English dictionary which should have been installed.