WD97: Proofing Tools Do Not Function As Expected

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

You may experience the following problems with the proofing tools in Microsoft Word 97.

• The thesaurus does not suggest any synonyms for any words.
  
  -or-
  



• Word stops responding (hangs) after you try to use the spelling checker.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. 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" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).


To resolve these problems, follow one of the methods below:

Method 1: Modify the registry to change the value of the thesaurus in the data key.

1. Quit all programs.



2. Click the Start button on the taskbar, and then click Run.



3. In the Open box, type regedit and then click OK.



4. Locate the following registry key:

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




5. Double-click on Dictionary and change the value from msth_am.lex to msthbus.lex.

Method 2: Delete the Proofing Tools registry key and the Proofing Tools folder and then run Office Setup to reinstall.

1. Close all running applications, including the Office Shortcut Bar, and turn off any anti-virus software.



2. On the Windows Start menu, click Run.



3. In the Open box, type regedit and then click OK.



4. Locate the following registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools




5. Select the folder Proofing Tools.



6. On the Edit menu, click Delete.



7. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.



8. Close the Registry Editor.



9. Right-click on the Windows Start menu, and select Explore.



10. Locate the following folder:

    C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared




11. Back up any files with a .dic extension before performing the next step. Select the Proof folder. On the File menu, click Delete.



12. Close Windows Explorer.



13. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.



14. In Control Panel, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.



15. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click to select Microsoft Office 97.
    
    (If you are using a stand-alone version of one of the Office programs, click to select the appropriate product in the list.) Then click Add/Remove.



16. When the Maintenance Mode screen appears, click Reinstall.

Q172475 OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-1

Q151261 OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-2

Additional query words:

Keywords : ocsso
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb