How to back up the Registry
Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftProtected Storage System Provider
4. On the File menu, click Export.
5. In the Save in box, select a location where you want to save the .reg file.
6. In the File name box, type a file name, and then click Save.
7. On the File menu, click Exit.
Microsoft Windows 2000
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftProtected Storage System Provider
4. On the Registry menu, click Save Key.
5. In the Save in box, select a location where you want to save the .reg file.
6. In the File name box, type a file name, and then click Save.
7. On the Registry menu, click Exit.
Microsoft Windows XP
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftProtected Storage System Provider
4. On the File menu, click Export.
5. In the Save in box, select a location where you want to save the .reg file.
6. In the File name box, type a file name, and then click Save.
7. On the File menu, click Exit.
How to remove the user account information in the registry
Windows 95 and Windows 98
Important Do not remove the main Protected Storage System Provider key. This key is not automatically regenerated. If you are not having password retention problems, and you do not remember your password, deleting the user subkey may result in not being able to retrieve your mail.
1. Quit all programs.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftProtected Storage System Provider
5. Double-click the Protected Storage System Provider key to expand the key, right-click the Default subkey, and then click Delete.
Note If user profiles are enabled on the computer, you will see subfolders for each user below the main Protected Storage System Provider key. If all users are experiencing the same difficulty, you must delete the subkey for each user and following the remaining steps for each user account definition.
6. On the File menu, click Exit, and then restart the computer.
Windows 2000
Important Do not remove the main Protected Storage System Provider key. This key is not automatically regenerated. If you are not having password retention problems and you do not remember your password, deleting the user subkey may result in not being able to retrieve your mail.
Note If you are a Windows 2000 user, you must have administrator permissions to edit the system registry.
1. Quit all programs.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftProtected Storage System Provider
5. On the Security menu, click Permissions.
6. Click the registry key for the user who is currently logged on and ensure that Read and Full Control are both set to Allow.
7. Click the Advanced button, ensure that user who is currently logged on is selected, that Full Control is listed in the Permissions column, and that This Key and Subkeys is listed in the Apply to column.
8. Click to select the Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions check box.
9. Click Apply, and then click Yes when you are prompted to continue.
10. Click OK two times.
11. Double-click the Protected Storage System Provider key to expand the key, click the user subkey folder that is directly below the Protected Storage System Provider key, click Delete on the Edit menu, and then click Yes in the warning message dialog box.
The user subkey folder looks similar to the following example:
S-1-5-21-124525095-708259637-1543119021-16701
Note For every identity that you have, there will be a subkey under the Protected Storage System Provider key. To resolve this problem in all your identities, you must delete all the user subkeys folders under the Protected Storage System Provider key.
12. On the Registry menu, click Exit, and then restart your computer.
Windows XP
Important Do not remove the main Protected Storage System Provider key. This key is not automatically regenerated. If you are not having password retention problems and you do not remember your password, deleting the user subkey may result in not being able to retrieve your mail.
Note If you are a Windows XP user, you must have administrator permissions to edit the system registry.
1. Quit all programs.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftProtected Storage System Provider
5. On the Edit menu, click Permissions.
6. Click the registry key for the user who is currently logged on and ensure that Read and Full Control are both set to Allow.
7. Click the Advanced button, ensure that user who is currently logged on is selected, that Full Control is listed in the Permissions column, and that This Key and Subkeys is listed in the Apply to column.
8. Click to select the Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions check box.
9. Click Apply, and then click Yes when you are prompted to continue.
10. Click OK two times.
11. Double-click the Protected Storage System Provider key to expand the key, click the user subkey folder that is directly below the Protected Storage System Provider key, click Delete on the Edit menu, and then click Yes in the warning message dialog box.
The user subkey folder looks similar to the following example:
S-1-5-21-124525095-708259637-1543119021-16701
Note For every identity that you have, there may be a subkey under the Protected Storage System Provider key. To resolve this issue in all your identities, you must delete all the user subkeys folders under the Protected Storage System Provider key.
12. On the File menu, click Exit, and then restart your computer.
How to re-enter your password
Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0
1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Mail icon.
3. In Internet Accounts, click to select the Internet Mail account that is not able to retain the password check box, and then click Properties.
4. On the Server tab, type your password, and then click to select the Remember Password check box.
5. Click OK, and then click Close.
6. Quit Control Panel.
Note If user profiles are enabled on the computer and you deleted the default Protected Storage System Provider subkey for other users, re-enter the password, and then click to check the Remember Password check box for those profiles.
7. Start Outlook, and use the Send and Receive command to test whether your password is retained.
Windows 2000
1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Mail icon, and then click the Mail tab.
3. In the Account column, click to select the POP account, and then click Properties.
4. On the Server tab, type your password, and then click to select the Remember Password check box.
5. Click OK, and then click Close.
6. Quit Control Panel.
Note If other Windows 2000 users are having password retention problems, re-enter the password, and then click to select the Remember Password check box for those profiles. Each user may have to log on for his password to be retained.
7. Start Outlook, and use the Send and Receive command to test whether your password is retained.
Windows XP
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Mail icon, and then click the Mail tab.
3. In the Account column, click to select the POP account, and then click Properties.
4. On the Server tab, type your password, and then click to select the Remember Password check box.
5. Click OK, and then click Close.
6. Quit Control Panel.
Note If other Windows XP users are having password retention issues, re-enter the password, and then click to check the Remember Password check box for those profiles. Each user may have to log on for his password to be retained.
7. Start Outlook, and use the Send and Receive command to test whether your password is retained.
These steps are very helpful and I just finished a technical support call in which I used them - problem solved!!
Ann Marie Day<br />Technology Specialist