my system had a user with password protection. and one day it crashed. I did a new folder instalation and backed up the whole thing to a 2nd hdd. then I did clean install and tried to retrieve the email from the backup file. it restores back the files to the destination I specified but outlook is telling that "the file is password protected or is in an unavailable volume" when I try to import it. I can't browse the file thru explorer either. HELP!!thnx in advance.

sorry to do this, but this post confuses me and I am trying to understand your problem so that I can help.. can you please clarify the following so that someone can be of better assistance: > my system had a user with password protection. Windows User account, or Email User Profile? > and one day it crashed. The Operating System or The Profile? > I did a new folder instalation and backed up the whole thing to a 2nd hdd. You re-installed the OS? or you Re-installed Outlook to a new directory? > then I did clean install and tried to retrieve the email from the backup file. This was a Windows backup file (.bkf) or what? > it restores back the files to the destination I specified but outlook is telling that "the file is password protected or is in an unavailable volume" when I try to import it. Are you having errors accessing just the PST or ANY of the files that you tried to backup? thanks.

>windows user account with pw protection(that was XP pro too) >new folder installation(XP pro) of the OS because it wouldn't boot and said a file was missing or corrupted. >windows .bkf file > only the user's application data (incl. the email and favourites etc.)is giving me a message saying that it's pw protected. this application data folder when restored is telling me that I am allowed to browse it since it's pw protected. thnx

k, that makes much more sense... thanks! You have a few options here: 1) you could try copying the corrupted/missing file from your 2nd copy of XP into the Root copy and re-booting seeing if that recovers your system. 2) the files have all been copied over with their previous user file security. I think in XP Pro the administrator should be able to ASSUME OWNERSHIP of these files and therefore have access to them. You can assume ownership by right-clicking on the top most directory that you have access to, chosing Properties > Security > Advanced > Ownership > Change Owner 3) You can find a version of Windows PRE (pre-employment xp version) that can be made into a boot CD, some of the versions out there will bypass ALL security and allow complete access to otherwise user-secured files. I have such a version, but got it from a friend, so I wouldn't know where you can get it online without searching for one. Hope that Helps! - Michael

thnx.will try and let u know. the ownership thing though I tried before and could not locate anywhere that showed me the security tab in properties. will try again. thnx again.

Trying to dust out the cobwebs in my brain (as I have been using XP as part of a domain for so long now), but I think there are various ways that XP can behave or configure according to the network and such. If you do not have the "security" tab in your properties on a file, you may have to enable it by turning on a service like "server" or something? maybe? You should have that ability, so I am curious to know why you wouldn't... would have to be a difference in the way that your XP Pro is set up/configured or networked. Maybe someone else would have a better clue on that . - Michael