A corrupt installation of Word could explain both problems. But before reinstalling, some other alternatives should be considered.
With respect to disabling AutoComplete, your action was correct and should have worked ? provided you clicked OK after unchecking the box.
The grayed-out Spell Check can indicate a missing or corrupt dictionary file. It will be missing if you didn?t specify Spell Checking when reinstalling Office ? it is not installed automatically.
To install the spell checker, insert the Office disk; if it does not start automatically, run its setup.exe file and choose Add or Remove Features. Expand Office Tools and then Proofing Tools. Select Spelling Checker, then Run from My Computer, and click on Update Now. Spell check should now be installed.
If you still have problems, try Repair Office before doing a complete reinstall.
Hope this helps, and please let us know the outcome.
Frank
After our hard drive crashed, we have had to re-install everything, including Word (part of our Office 2000 package). Two things we would like to fix (but somehow cannot):
1. We would like to get rid of the Autocomplete feature. We have gone to Tools ? Autocorrect - AutoText and unchecked ?Show Autocomplete Tip for AutoText and Dates? - even though this is probbaly not what needs to be unchecked ? but we could find nothing else to unselect. Could you advise us on how we can ge rid of Autocomplete?
2. The Spelling/Grammar check feature (in Tools ? Options) cannot be selected by us (it is in faded font); how can we select it?
Thnak you very much for any help you can offer.

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic