OLEXP: Err Msg: Spelling Could Not Be Initialized Because Initialization of the English Dictionary Failed (214532)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.5 for Macintosh
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0 for Macintosh
This article was previously published under Q214532
For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SYMPTOMS

When you start Outlook Express, you may receive the following error message:
Spelling could not be initialized because initialization of the English dictionary failed. Please select a different language using the Spelling panel in Preferences.
After you receive this error message, you cannot use spell checking in Outlook Express.

CAUSE

The spell checking option in Outlook Express is available when Microsoft Office 98 for Macintosh is installed on the same computer. Outlook Express uses the spell checking files in the "Microsoft Office 98:Shared Applications:Proofing Tools" folder. The error message can occur if:
  • There are problems on the hard disk (such as bad sectors, fragmented files, or B-tree errors).
  • There is an error in the Outlook Express preferences file that maps the path to the Proofing Tools folder incorrectly.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue:
  1. Quit Outlook Express by clicking Quit on the File menu.
  2. Press and hold down the OPTION key while you drag the Proofing Tools folder from the "Microsoft Office 98:Shared Applications" folder to the "Microsoft Internet 4.x:Outlook Express 4.x" folder. This copies the Proofing Tools folder to the Outlook Express 4.x folder.
  3. Start Outlook Express. You should be able to use spell checking.

Alternate Methods

  • Reinstall Office 98 from the Office 98 CD-ROM. Verify that the Office 98 CD-ROM has been removed from the computer before starting Outlook Express.
  • If available disk space is low:

    1. Quit Outlook Express by clicking Quit on the File menu.
    2. Drag the Proofing Tools folder from the "Microsoft Office 98:Shared Applications" folder to the "Microsoft Internet 4.x:Outlook Express 4.x" folder.
    3. Start Outlook Express. Spell checking should work.
    4. Quit Outlook Express by clicking Quit on the File menu.
    5. Drag the Proofing Tools folder back to the original location (the "Microsoft Office 98:Shared Applications" folder).
    6. Start Outlook Express again to verify that the error message no longer occurs and spell checking works.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/10/2003
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB214532
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.