Computer Tech Support:

My Outlook 2003 has started asking for a password XXXXX 2 or

Thank you for the reply, please try the following:

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=290684

Back up your registry and remove the user account information from the "Protected Storage System Provider" subkey. Then, reenter your password XXXXXXX.

To do this, follow the steps below:

Back up the registry key

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_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected 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. Type a file name in the File name box, and then click Save.
7. On the File menu, click Exit.

Remove the user account information

1. Exit all programs.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box , and then click OK
3. 3. Locate and then click the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider
4. On the Edit menu, click Permissions.
5. Click the registry key for the user who is currently logged on. Then, make sure that the Read and Full Control permissions are both set to Allow.
6. Click Advanced. Then, verify that the 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.
7. Click to select the Replace permission entries on all child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects check box.
8. Click Apply, and then click Yes to continue.
9. Click Ok two times
10. Double-click the Protected Storage System Provider key to expand the key. Click the user subkey folder that is directly underneath 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 resembles 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 identities, you must delete all the user subkeys folders that are under the Protected Storage System Provider key.
11. On the Registry menu, click Exit. Then, restart the computer.

Thank you for the quick reply.

Unfortunately there isn't a patch or fix it button with this particular issue. Please try to go through the steps I have drawn out, get as far as you can and if you have questions or need assistance with it or get stuck please let me know.

PLEASE TEST THE SOLUTION BEFORE ACCEPTING. IF AFTER ACCEPTING YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH RESULTS PLEASE ASK FOR MORE HELP. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK

Please do the following to backup the registry.
1) Click start at the bottom left, then click run and type in regedit then click ok and the registry editor will open.

1. On the File menu at the top, click Export.
2. In the Save in box, select a location where you want to save the .reg file(my documents).
3. Type a file name in the File name box, and then click Save(registry backup).
4. On the File menu, click Exit.

Remove the user account information

1. While in the registry and you have Protected Storage System Provider selected then click on the Edit menu at the top and click Permissions.
2. Click the registry key for the user who is currently logged on. Then, make sure that the Read and Full Control permissions are both set to Allow.
3. Click Advanced. Then, verify that the 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.
4. Click to select the Replace permission entries on all child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects check box.
5. Click Apply, and then click Yes to continue.
6. Click Ok two times
7. Double-click the Protected Storage System Provider key to expand the key. Click the user subkey folder that is directly underneath 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 resembles 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 identities, you must delete all the user subkeys folders that are under the Protected Storage System Provider key.
8. On the Registry menu, click Exit. Then, restart the computer.

Thank you for the quick reply.

There are a couple other things you can do if the previous answer didn't work.

Please try the following:

Create a new Outlook profile

Create a new Outlook Profile

1. Start Outlook.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. On the Mail Setup tab, click Data Files.
4. Note the path and the file name for each .pst file that is associated with your e-mail profile.
   

• For example, the path and the file name may resemble the following:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Copy and paste (or type) the following command in the Open box and then press ENTER:control panel
3. If you are in Classic View, double-click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box opens. Go to step 5.
4. If you are in Category View, under Control Panel, click Switch to Classic View, and then double-click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box opens.
5. In the Mail Setup dialog box, click Show Profiles.
6. On the General tab, under When starting Microsoft Office Outlook, use this profile, click Prompt for a profile to be used, and then click Add.
7. In the Profile Name box, type the name that you want to use for the new e-mail profile, and then click OK.
8. In the E-mail Accounts dialog box, click Add a new e-mail account, and then click Next.
9. Click the appropriate server type for your new e-mail account, and then click Next.
10. Type your account information in the required boxes, and then click Next.
11. Click Finish, and then click OK.

1. Start Outlook.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. On the Mail Setup tab, click E-mail accounts, click View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.
4. Click New Outlook Data File, click Personal Folders file (.pst) under Types of storage, and then click OK.
5. Locate and then click the .pst file that you want to use, and then click OK two times.
   Note If you want to use more than one .pst file, repeat steps 4 and 5 for each .pst file that you want to use with the new e-mail profile.
6. In the Deliver new e-mail to the following location list, click Personal Folders, and then click Finish.
7. Click OK if you receive the following message: You have changed the default deliver location for your e-mail. This will change the location of the Inbox, Calendar, and other folders. These changes will take effect the next time that you start Outlook.
8. On the File menu, click Exit.
9. Start Outlook. Then, click Yes to update the Outlook Bar shortcuts to point to the .pst files if you receive the following message:
   • The location that messages are delivered to has changed for this user profile. To complete this operation, you may need to copy the contents of the old Outlook folders to the new Outlook folders. For information about how to complete the change of your mail delivery location, see Microsoft Outlook Help. Some of the shortcuts on the Outlook Bar may no longer work. Do you want Outlook to re-create your shortcuts?