probs with apache and .htaccess win2k

hey guys, i run nt with apache 2.0.39, with php and mysql, i run a php/mysql message board but i would like to restrict access to the message board via .htaccess files, i have tried, made a .htaccess and .htpasswd file, but if i put the .htaccess file in any of the directoys, i try to access them and i do get asked for a user and pass, however when i enter them it asks me 3 times untill eventully i get an 'authorization required' error, i have set the htacces file up with the following in it.

AuthUserFile "c:/webserver/www/.htpasswd"
AuthName "Chat Realm"
AuthType Basic
require valid-user

however even if i have a .htpasswd file in the folder www it still wont accept me as a user.

in my httpd.conf file is this

<Directory "C:/webserver/www">

Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
Options ExecCGI
Options Includes
AllowOverride all
Order allow,deny
Allow from all

</Directory>
this was standard (without comments) as i used an auto install thing called foxserv.
is there no way i can add the strings and usernames into the httpd.conf coz im sure this isnt gonna work for me, ive tried all diff things, searched, used templates, allsorts, i have tried my best with this but with no joy what soever, i figured you pros might be able to help...

i could settle for a normal webpage with a form login but i would much rather use http auth for this as its pretty much failsafe against hacks.

please any advice would be much appriciated..

regards.
comp.

edit: ive since found i can use htpasswd.exe in the /bin/apache but it just crashes every time, and it says the -c and -n parameters conflict

-c says "create a new password file", -n says "don't use a file but output everything to the screen". Thus they conflict...
Leave out the "-n" you probably don't need it.

hth,
M.

ive tried both -c and -n and neither of them work, it says they conflict yet im only useing one of the commands