Error Message for Spell Checker Indicates Wrong File

ID: Q123842

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Office for Windows, versions 4.2, 4.3
Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0
Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 5.0, when you check spelling, you may receive an error message resembling the following:

Cannot find MSSPELL.DLL

This error message may be misleading because in some cases the file that the Spelling tool cannot find is the MSSPEL2.DLL file.

CAUSE

When you install Microsoft Office or Microsoft Word, the MSSPEL2.DLL file is installed in the <Windows directory>\MSAPPS\PROOF directory. However, the standalone version of Microsoft Excel version 5.0 uses MSSPELL.DLL. The error message displayed in Microsoft Excel does not reflect the new filename.

WORKAROUND

To determine which file Microsoft Excel is searching for, do the following to check the proofing tools entries in the WIN.INI file:

In Microsoft Excel, choose About Microsoft Excel from the Help menu.

Choose the System Info button.

From the Choose A Category list, select Proofing.

In the view window, check for either of the following lines:
Spelling 1033,0=C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\PROOF\MSSPEL2.DLL, C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\MSSP2_EN.LEX

-or-

Spelling 1033,0=C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\PROOF\MSSPELL.DLL, C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\MSSP_AM.LEX

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:4.2,4.3,5.0,6.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :