.htpasswd/.htaccess problem...

[Krassen Deltchev]

Hello and cheers!

i'm having this kind of apache security problem on RHEL3:
-if i specify .htaccess /.htpasswd for any of the 
(sub-)directories/files under : /home/<user's name>/public_html/,this 
authentificating algorythm is working good.
-but if i try to secure some other folder under different path ,let's 
say under:
/var/www/html/publications_nonfree/
i'm getting always one and the same error:
<----cut here----->

Internal Server Error
The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was 
unable to complete your request.

Please contact the server administrator, webmaster at my.domain.cob and 
inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have 
done that may have caused the error.

More information about this error may be available in the server error log.

<----cut here----->

-i'm sure ,i'm giving the right absolute path to .htpasswd;
-i'm sure i'm crypting the right way the user's password using :
#htpasswd .htpasswd <login-user's name> ,and afterthat i'm getting the 
password/retype prompt...

What could cause such kind of error?

if you send me just links i schould be also pleased;
better login promts scripts for a website are welcomed!

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

krassen

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Krassen Deltchev
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Medizinische Fakultät
Institut für Physiologie
Abteilung für Neurophysiologie
MA 4-155
Universitätsstrasse 150
44801 Bochum
e-mail: deltchev at neurop.rub.de
            Krassen.Deltchev at rub.de
tel.work:    0234.32.24918