OL98: Error Messages Using Security in Outlook 98 (189857)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 98
This article was previously published under Q189857

SYMPTOMS

When you send or receive a signed or encrypted message using a Verisign certificate with Microsoft Outlook 98, you may receive the following error message:
Your key set cannot be found by the underlying security system.
If you try to reinstall the security certificate, you may receive the following error when sending a message:
This message could not be secured using the selected security settings. Your e-mail address may not match the e-mail address on the certificate, or some other problem exists with the certificate. Do you want to proceed with the message without security?"

CAUSE

You failed to log on to Windows by pressing ESC at the Windows Logon dialog box.

-or-

You deleted your Windows Password file (*.pwl). Outlook uses this file as part of the security key set. If you fail to log on to Windows or delete the password file, the key set is incomplete and you will not be able to use your security certificate.

RESOLUTION

Be sure to log on to Windows by entering your password in the Windows Logon dialog box.

-or-

If you deleted your password file, contact your security provider and obtain a new security ID.

MORE INFORMATION

If you find it necessary to delete your Windows password file, you can export your certificate and delete your security ID before deleting the password file. Then, after you rebuild the password file by logging back on to Windows with your password, you can reimport your Certificate.

If you try to export the certificate after you delete the password file, you will receive the following error message:
An error occurred trying to export security information.

To Export Your Certificate and Delete Your Security ID

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. On the Security tab, click "Import/Export Digital ID."
  3. Click to select "Export your Exchange or S/MIME Security Information" and click Select.
  4. Click to select the certificate you wish to Export and click OK.
  5. Type a file name in the form <name.pfx>, into Export File.
  6. Type a password in the Password window. You will need this password to reimport this file.
  7. Click to select "Delete Security Information Digital ID from system" and click OK.

    NOTE: If you have more than one certificate, you will need to repeat this procedure for each certificate.
Delete your Password file from the Windows folder and close Windows. Then restart Windows and log on with your password.

To Import Your Certificate

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. On the Security tab, click "Import/Export Digital ID."
  3. Click to select "Import existing Exchange or S/MIME Security Information."
  4. Type the name or Browse to the file you created when you exported the certificate and click Open.
  5. In Password, type the password you assigned when you exported the certificate.
  6. Type a name in the Keyset window (this is usually your mailbox name) and click OK.

To Reinitialize Your Security Settings

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. On the Security tab, click "Change Settings."
  3. In the Digital Signature section, click Choose.
  4. Click to select the certificate you wish to use and click OK, OK, and OK.
If you find that you need to replace the digital ID but wish to send mail without digital security, follow these steps to disable security:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options. Click the Security tab.
  2. In Secure E-mail, click to remove the check marks from the selections, "Encrypt contents and attachments for outgoing messages" and "Add digital signature to outgoing messages"
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/30/1999
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB189857
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