Problem

When using Outlook Express 6 only the French Dictionary is available.  There is no English Dictionaries available.

Reason

This has only been found to occur on systems with Office 2007 installed. When Office 2007  is installed, the English, German and Spanish Dictionaries are removed from the system and from OE6. This is because Office 2007 uses new proofing tools which is not compatible with OE6.

see Microsoft article KB932974 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932974

Solution

The dictionaries can be installed using one of the following 3 solutions…

1.  Microsoft recommends that a Third Party dictionary be used.  You can find one on the internet for OE6.

2.  Reconfigure Word…

(a) Open Word 2007
(b) Click on the Office Icon (upper left)
(c) Go down to Word Options
(d) Select Proofing
(e) Check "Suggest from main dictionary only"
(f) Select Custom Dictionaries
(g) Click the drop down button at right of dictionary languages
(h) Go down and select English (South Africa) - or your preferred country...
(i) Click ok twice
(j) Restart OE and try the spell check.

3.  Install the proofing tools from Office 2003 CD

The proofing tools are available on any office product including Front Page 2003, Visio 2003, Project 2003. Publisher 2003, etc…

(a) Run Office setup and choose the custom option.
(b) Uncheck all programs in the list and add a check to choose the options at the bottom of the programs list.
(c) On the next screen, set each top level item to be “Not Available” (red X icon).
(d) Expand the Office Shared Features branch and locate Proofing tools in the list.
(e) Expand proofing tools and choose English
(f) Set this option it to Run from my computer.
(g) Finish the installation.
(h) Once installed, restart OE - go to Tools, Options and verify Spelling is configured to use the correct English dictionary.

Please make sure that only the PROOFING TOOLS are installed and nothing else

Product combination affected…
Outlook Express 6
With Office 2007