Hi Bernie..... You're absolutely correct, the spell checker used by OE is borrowed from M$ Word (or Works version 8.0 or newer). Unfortunately, with Office 97 there seems to be a very common problem like you experienced. For some reason the probloem is very rare when the speller from Word 2000, 2003, or XP is used...just some hangup with Word 97 that has been fixed with later versions of Word.
The most probable cause of your getting this common warning is the
Csapi3t1.dll file, which is located in the
Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof folder is missing or damaged. You'll need to get a copy of
CSAPI3T1.DLL and put it back in the
Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof folder and then you must re-start your PC for changes to take effect.
Here's a link to a site I often refer folks, myself included, to visit...
http://www.uninets.net/~blaisdel/whistler4.htm . Go down about half way on that page to this heading
Outlook Express 6.0 Can't Spell and you will see an explanation and if I remember correctly I think he has a link where you can download the file from and install it.... You could also do a web search for that .DLL file and be able to download it. Used to be quite common a problem, so lots of sites, from old Office 97 days...
Another thought, just in case you feel any qualms about going into your registry and editing it to fix the "hic-up", is you can go to some freeware sites and download the free spell checker that is the exact same spell checker used by Works and Word, install it, and it will automatically associate itself with OE....
www.majorgeeks.com or
www.download.com are a couple of sites I use alot ... It has been quite awhile since I have referred someone there to get the spell checker so my mind is just drawing a blank on it...but the major Geeks site will let you check for a spell checker and this free one is well described as the one to get to work with OE email... actually works with all email programs, but is particularly good with Office word processor Word..... Nothing wrong with Office 97 (I still have my disks, although I am using Office 2000 now), its just that the support from M$ is lacking for that older version of Office.......
You can resolve either way, but since you use Office 97, I think you would be best off download the free spell checker and this way you shouldn't get this "hic-up" in the future........ Hope that gets you back to happy camping land........ Al
*** Edit *** Yayyyy, I am using my laptop and Firefox2 and thought I didn't have my link to Kelly's Korner... but there it was in Bookmarks...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_oe.htm#xp_spell_checker.... That site not only shows you how to repair the missing/corrupted .dll file but it also has a link to the free spell checker that you can get and install....... Now I am sure you will be back in happy camper land, and don't have to even think about upgrading your M$ Office program.....

... BT