Passwords - Outlook

SYMPTOMS
When you run Outlook on Windows 2000 and connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to retrieve messages from a Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) server, your password is not retained even though you have selected to save your password.
CAUSE
This behavior occurs because the registry contains incorrect information for the Protected Storage System Provider registry subkey for your account.

RESOLUTION
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To resolve this behavior, use the following steps in this section to remove the user account information and then re-enter your password.
How to Back up the Registry
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider

On the Registry menu, click Save Key.
In the File name box, type a unique name for the key.
In the Save In box, click a location for the file, and then click Save.
On the Registry menu, click Exit.
How to Remove the User Account Information
Quit all programs.
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedt32, and then click OK.
Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider

On the Security menu, click Permissions.
Click the registry key for the user that is currently logged on, and then verify that Read and Full Control are both set to Allow.
Click the Advanced button, verify that the user that is currently logged on is selected, that Full Control is listed in the Permission column, and that This Key and Subkeys is listed in the Apply to column.
Select the Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions check box.
Click Apply, and then click Yes when you receive the prompt to continue.
Click OK twice.
Double-click the Protected Storage System Provider key, click the ser subkey folder, click Delete on the Edit menu, and then click Yes in the Warning Message dialog box.

The following example is similar to how the user subkey folder should look:
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 behavior in all of your identities, you must delete all of the user subkeys folders under the Protected Storage System Provider key.
On the Registry menu, click Exit, and then restart your computer.
How to Re-Enter Your Password
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Mail or Mail and Fax.
Click Internet E-mail, and then click Properties.
On the Servers tab, type your password in the Password box, and then select the Remember password check box.
Click OK twice.
Close Control Panel, and then start Outlook.
On the Tools menu, click Send and Receive to verify that your password is retained.
NOTE: If other Windows 2000 users are having password retention issues, re-enter the password, and then select the Remember Password check box for those profiles. Each user may need to log on for their password to be retained.

For additional information about passwords not retained in Windows 2000, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
259416 OL2000: (IMO) Your Password Is Not Retained in Windows 2000

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