If the DVD that you received when you purchased DNS 11 was the full DNS 11.5, or even if it wasn't, try inserting the DVD into your DVD drive and running the setup.exe if it doesn't automatically prompt you for autostart. If you applied the update patch to bring your version of Dragon up to 11.5 and inserting your DVD or DNS 11 prompts you that there is a newer version installed, try running the update patch with Dragon unloaded (i.e., DNS11ServicePack1.exe), provided that you downloaded it instead of choosing the Run during the prompt for installing the update patch.

However, my suspicion is that you should be able to run the setup from the DVD for Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 (11.0-11.5) depending upon which one you have because the place in the registry that Dragon checks during install is what you see when you go to Programs and Features. If this works, you should get to the Dragon NaturallySpeaking UninstallShield Wizard with the prompts for Modify, Repair, and Remove. Select Repair and let it run to completion. Check the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Help | About NaturallySpeaking… in the help menu on the DragonBar. If you get a successful repair and the About NaturallySpeaking shows 11.5, then go to the Windows Control Panel | Programs and Features and check to see that the Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 entry is there. Everything going well, you should be good to go. If the About NaturallySpeaking shows DNS 11.00… vs. 11.50…, and then either run the DNS11ServicePack1.exe if you have it downloaded, or go to Check for Updates and get it the, making sure that you download it to a location where you can find it afterwards. I generally recommend downloading it to the Windows Desktop initially and then move it to a special folder after you've completed running it.

If you find that you have to download and install the DNS11ServicePack1.exe there is a major issue that can arise when doing so. That is, before you run the DNS 11 service pack update, make sure that you exit and close Dragon NaturallySpeaking. If you run the service pack update with DNS loaded and running, you can run into a couple of confusing and problematic issues. If you unload and exit Dragon NaturallySpeaking, you will generally avoid these.

If you need any further assistance, or if these procedures don't work to resolve the problem with Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11, let us know.

As regards your problem with Microsoft Outlook, the likelihood is that the NatSpeak Outlook AddIn (dgnoutlook.dll) is either inactive or disabled. Repairing DNS 11 should resolve this. However, if it doesn't, let us know, as well as letting us know what version of Microsoft Office you're using. All Microsoft Office applications that are supported by DNS require that there specific add-ins be loaded. It's obvious from the fact that you say that everything seems to work properly in Microsoft Word, but that is likely because the NatSpeak Word AddIn (dgnword.dll) is loaded and active when you bring up Microsoft Word. The problem is most likely that the same is not true for Microsoft Outlook (dgnoutlook.dll or the NatSpeak Outlook AddIn is not loading and/or active.

Hopefully, the above suggestions will help you out in both cases. But, again, if you continue to have problems let us know. However, please be as specific and detailed as you can including step-by-step explanations of what you did and what the results were.

Chuck Runquist
Technical Project Manager
VoiceTeach LLC
Home of VoicePower®: We don't make Dragon NaturallySpeaking, We make it better!

Getting technical support rule #1: When asking questions or describing problems, express yourself as if you were attempting to describe the Mona Lisa to a blind person.