Works: Unable to Use Spelling Checker or Clipart on a Windows NT-Based Computer

When you attempt to use the spelling checker or insert a piece of clipart in one of the Microsoft programs listed at the beginning of this article, you may receive an error message, and the spelling checker or clipart gallery may not function.

This behavior can occur if the following conditions are true:

• You run Microsoft Works on a Microsoft Windows NT-based computer.
• You are logged on to the computer as a member of either the Users group or the Guests group.
• A member of the Administrators group installed Microsoft Works on the computer.

If you are logged on to the computer as a member of the Users group or the Guests group, you cannot modify the Windows registry keys needed to use the spelling checker or the clipart gallery.

To resolve this issue, log on to the computer as a member of the Administrators group, and then modify the Windows registry to grant "Full Control" permissions for the spelling checker and clipart gallery to members of the Users group and the Guests group.

NOTE: Changing the security settings for these specific registry keys does not cause any other security problems.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


To grant "Full Control" permissions for the spelling checker and clipart gallery to members of the Users group and the Guests group:

1. Log on to the computer as a member of the Administrators group.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedt32, and then click OK.
4. Click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE window to bring it to the front.
5. Double-click the Software folder.
6. Double-click the Microsoft folder.
7. On the Security menu, click Permissions.
8. In the Name box, click Users or Everyone.
9. In the Permissions box, click to select the Allow check boxes on the Read and the Full Control lines.
10. Click OK.
11. Click to highlight the Shared Tools folder.
12. Click to highlight the Works folder.
13. On the Security menu, click Permissions.
14. In the Name box, click Users or Everyone.
15. In the Permissions box, click to select the Allow check boxes on the Read and the Full Control lines.
16. Click to select the Replace Permission On Existing Subkeys check box, and then click OK.
17. Click to highlight the Clipart Gallery folder.
18. On the Security menu, click Permissions.
19. In the Name box, click Users or Everyone.
20. In the Permissions box, click to select the Allow check boxes on the Read and the Full Control lines.
21. Click to select the Replace Permission On Existing Subkeys check box, and then click OK.
22. Close Registry Editor.

NOTE: To avoid this issue when you install future versions of Works on a Windows NT-based computer, log on to the computer as a member of the Adminitrators group, and then install the program.