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NOTE: The fix shown below does not apply to Windows XP.  For XP, see this web page, Getting spellcheck to work in Outlook Express XP: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/spellcheck.htm
21 Jan 2003
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Enabling Spell Check in Outlook Express.

The following instruction are for US English spell check only.

You need 2 specific files for Spell Check to work in Outlook Express. These
files do not come with Outlook Express, but with major MS apps like Word,
Office, etc.

The 2 files you must have are MSSP232.DLL, and MSSP2_EN.LEX. Use Find to locate
those files on your computer and write down the complete path to the files.  A
3rd file, custom.dic, contains the words you have added to spell check. If you
don't have it, create an empty file with NotePad and rename it custom.dic. It
should be in the same directory as the other 2 files.

Open Regedit and export the entire Registry in case you screw something up.
Click on the plus next to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key and open the appropriate
keys (the keys look like folders) until you get to
KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools\Spelling\1033\Normal.
You must have a string value there named Dictionary with the correct path to
MSSP2_EN.LEX as the Data, and a string value named Engine with the correct path
to MSSP232.DLL as the Data.

Now move down one level to the Clients key. There you must have a string value
named with the correct path to MSSP232.DLL, and nothing in Data (just 2 double
quotes).

Now move to the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools\Custom Dictionaries
key. There you need a string value name 1, with Data showing the correct path
to custom.dic.

One last Registry key to check. Go back to the top level in the left pane,
close the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key and open the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key. Go down to
Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express key, and make sure you have a string value
there named SpellLangID, with Data showing 1033.

Once you have all this done, close Outlook Express if it is open, then reopen
it.  Spell check should now be enabled.  If not, reboot and your spell check
will work.

Once again, these instructions are specific to US English spell check.

Bill James
04 Nov 2000 23:24