OL2000: (IMO) User Not Prompted for Password on a Personal Folder (196803)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
This article was previously published under Q196803


NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Internet Mail Only option. To determine your installation type, click About Microsoft Outlook on the Help menu. If you have the Internet Mail Only option installed, you see "Internet Mail Only".

For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SYMPTOMS

When you password protect a Personal Folder, you may be prompted for a password each time you open Microsoft Outlook.

CAUSE

The owner of the Personal folder is not prompted for the password if the password was saved to the password list. Others who use the same computer are asked for a password.

MORE INFORMATION

Password protecting a personal folder (PST) is a way to prevent other users who also log onto the same computer from opening or viewing your PST file. If you as the owner, log on to the computer, you are trusted and are not prompted for the password. Other users logging on to the computer do receive a prompt for the password. After typing the password, a user will not be prompted for the password again until they Outlook is restarted.

For example, user A logs on to the computer and creates a mail profile that includes a password-protected PST. If at a later time user B logs on to the same computer and tries to open user A's PST, they are prompted for a password. If User A logs on to the system, no prompt for a password to open the PST is displayed unless the password is not in the password list.

If you, the owner of the PST file are prompted for a password, type the password and click to select "Save this password in your password list."

If another user needs continual access to the PST file, you can allow them access by typing the password, then clicking to select, "Save this password in your password list."

The owner can password protect a PST when creating it or at a later time. When you add a personal folder to your Outlook configuration, type the password and click to select, "Save this password in your password list."

To Protect Your PST After Creation

To protect an existing PST, follow these steps:

  1. On the View menu, click Folder List if the list is not displayed.
  2. Right-click your personal folder, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
  3. Click Advanced and then click Change Password.
  4. Type the Old Password (if there was one) and type the New Password, where indicated. Type the password again in Verify Password.
  5. If you do not want to be prompted for a password each time you start a new Outlook session, click to select "Save this password in your password list." Click OK three times to close all open dialog boxes.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/8/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB196803
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.