Outlook.pst file broken -- unable to fix

My machine locked and when I restarted it my Outlook couldn't access the
outlook.pst file. Because Vista will not give me administrator access to the
Local Settings folder so that I can use the Inbox Repair tool, I cannot tell
Outlook how to relink to the file.

So... I uninstalled MS Office altogether, rebooted, reinstalled the suite
with the hope of simply recreating my mail profile. No dice. It still
doesn't work.

This is the error message that I get when Outlook opens: "Unable to display
the folder. Microsoft Outlook could not access the specified folder location.
Errors have been detected in the file C:\Documents and Settings\Lee\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst. Quit all
mail-enabled applications, and then use the Inbox Repair Tool."

Two questions:
1. Does anyone know how to fix this?
2. Does anyone know how to enable administrator permissions so that you can
access the Local Settings folder and thus make the recommendation in this
error message work. Everything that I've read on here has thus far been
ineffective in making it possible to get to the Local Settings folder.

Thanks!