Grammar checker

[Playbill]

My previous computer ran Windows XP and had Microsoft Word. The grammar checker worked very well with Word.

My new computer came with Windows 7 and Microsoft Works, which includes a word processing programme.

In the tools option, all the fault and correction boxes have been ticked - including the grammar checker. But it does not highlight any grammar mistakes. I deliberately made some to test it.

Any suggestions of how to fix this problem. Or is it possible to download and add a grammar checker to the programme?

[ChuckFickens]

Why not install the previous version of office you had on your XP computer onto the new computer?

[Playbill]

Thanks for the suggestion.
My son borrowed the XP installation CD several years ago and that has vanished.
I will find my old machine's hard drive and see if I can get from that.

[MarkRae]

You (almost) certainly won't be able to do that unless your old machine actually had an image of the Office installation CD.

Are you absolutely certain that what came with your new computer wasn't the demo version of Works, which may since have expired? I can't be certain because I don't use Works at all, but quite a few Microsoft (and other) applications come with demo versions which give you a taster for a while but then require you to purchase a licence, and certain functionality is disabled until / unless you do...

[VHG]

Works is not usually a demo version but the full product..

Note that Microsoft are no longer developing Works and will stop selling it soon so may be a good idea to look for another Word processor.

No new computers are shipped with Works (not for the last few months anyway).

If yours shipped with it it must be a laptop from a few months ago (old stock).

Most new PCs come shipped with Office Starter which is a free, non expiring product with cut down versions of Word and Excel. You cant buy it though, you can only get it pre-shipped on a PC.

[Playbill]

MarkRae: Yes, you are right - as I quickly discovered.

All other parts of the programmes appear to be working correctly. It is just the grammar checker that is not.

VHG: I bought the computer from a small local company less than than 3 months ago. I have been using them for several years and have always had good service. It is not a laptop and they build them up to order, so is not old stock. Though it looks like the programme might be!

Thank you both for your thoughts.

[NazNomad]

Does F7 not work with the newer software.

[Playbill]

Yes, F7 works. In the word processing programme it brings up the spelling and grammar check options and all the boxes are ticked for on.

[MarkRae]

Are you sure it's not as simple as locales or configuration?

By locales, I mean does Works "think" its default language is something other than British English? Certainly in the case of Word, it's possible to specify a language which doesn't have a grammar checker e.g. Scottish Gaelic...

By configuration, I mean might you have turned automatic grammar checking off, if such an option exists in Works? That's certainly an option in Word...

[Playbill]

I phoned my son and he has Works on his laptop although he uses Open office. He also did same tests as me and got same results: all options are ticked but the grammar checker did not find deliberate mistakes.
There are only four English plus French, German and Spanish language options to choose from. This is a much simpler programme than Word.
I think will switch to Open office.

Thanks again all.

[NazNomad]

I've just read that running in XP Compatability Mode cured the problem.

[Playbill]

NazNomad:
Thank you, that seems to have almost fixed the problem. Although it is not automatically high lighting faults as you type - like Word did, it now picks them up when I open the Spelling and Grammar Checker.
Thank you very much, I shall pass this info on to my son.

[NazNomad]

A half-hearted fix, but better than nothing, lol