WD97: Spelling, Grammar Not Available in Word Running on Window 2000 or Windows XP

When you attempt to use the spelling or grammar features in Microsoft Word 97, nothing happens and you do not receive an error message. Also, all of the options on the Spelling and Grammar tabs in the Tools dialog box are unavailable (dimmed). (To view the Spelling and Grammar tabs, click Options on the Tools menu.)

This problem occurs with users who are members of the local Users group if the Users group does not have sufficient permissions to the following registry keys:

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
NOTE: You must be an administrator or have administrative rights to perform this procedure.

To correct this problem, use the appropriate steps to set up sufficient permissions on your version of Windows:

Windows 2000

1. Quit Word. Quit Microsoft Outlook if you are using Word as your e-mail editor.
2. Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type Regedt32.exe and then click OK.
3. Select the first registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools\Spelling
4. On the Security menu, click Permissions.
5. Click Advanced.
6. In the Permissions Entries box, click the Users group, and then click the View/Edit button.
7. Click to select the Allow check box for the Set Value and Create Subkeys permissions.
8. Click OK twice.
9. Repeat steps 3 through 8 for the second registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools\Grammar
10. Quit Registry Editor.

Windows XP

1. Quit Word. Quit Microsoft Outlook if you are using Word as your e-mail editor.
2. Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type Regedt32.exe and then click OK.
3. Select the first registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools\Spelling
4. On the Edit menu, click Permissions.
5. Click Advanced.
6. In the Permissions Entries box, click the Users group, and then click the View/Edit button.
7. Click to select the Allow check box for the Set Value and Create Subkeys permissions.
8. Click OK twice.
9. Repeat steps 3 through 8 for the second registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools\Grammar
10. Quit Registry Editor.

The Spelling and Grammar features will be available (not dimmed) and will work as expected the next time that you start Word.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.