Outlook Express Help Desk

Warning!!!: Using the Windows Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems requiring the re-installation of your operating system and possible loss of data. I do not and will not support problems that arise from you editing your own registry. Use the Registry Editor and my directions at your own risk. Be sure that you create a backup of your registry and be very sure that you know how to restore it. If you are not sure how to do both of these things then STOP here!! and read the directions.

In case you have forgotten or lost your MS Outlook Express identity password, you can remove it by hacking the Registry, to be able to access OE again.

Run Regedit and go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider\*Default*\Data\89c39569-6841-11d2-9f59-0000f8085266

or to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider\\Data\89c39569-6841-11d2-9f59-0000f8085266

If user profiles are enabled on your computer, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider\\Data\89c39569-6841-11d2-9f59-0000f8085266

Then delete its subkey.

Now open OE and type in a new identity password. Note that the subkey name and the CLSID are the same. There is difference of uppercase and lowercase.

If you know your CLSID, go to this Registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{CLSID} to find out the OE password key name.