Password protect certain web files

Well google is confusing me. My coworker and I have been following the directions for the htaccess file stuff and can not get it to work. Get an error 500
The server encountered an internal error and was unable to complete your request. Either the server is overloaded or there was an error in a CGI script.
Need some help on what to do. We followed instructions to the t. We have a limited time to get this done. Please help

re: Password protect certain web files

What are the contents of your htaccess file?

re: Password protect certain web files

AuthUserFile ./.htpasswd
AuthGroupFile /dev/null
AuthName "Valid Users Only"
AuthType Basic

require valid-user

then I have this in the htpasswd file
Administrator:gatdjUajvHwDM

re: Password protect certain web files

Is that enough info Markus? Can you help with this?

re: Password protect certain web files

I'm sorry - this didn't show up in my subscribed posts.

Rcollins, take a look in your apache error logs - there'll most likely be some useful information in there (nothing jumps out at me, regarding your htaccess)

Mark.