How to Remove Word Smileys from Outlook 2007
from Code and Coffee by Matthew R. Miller

With Outlook 2007, and even with Outlook 2003 Microsofts little smiley faces will be replaced for the standard smiley you type. This is both annoying and unnecessary; so how do you disable it? Not too difficult, here are the steps:

1. In Outlook 2007 go to the “Tools Menu” and click on “Options”.
2. Click on the “Spelling” tab and then on the “Spelling and AutoCorrection…” tab.
3. Select the “Proofing” tab on the left, and then the “AutoCorrect Options…”
4. You will now see the a list of character. ON the ride side is the symbol that will be replaced with the text on the left side. You all 4-5 smiley faces and click the “Delete” button.
5. Click “OK” and back out of your dialogs.

With all of the steps you have to go to jut to get to this option dialog, no wonder it’s not commonly known.