Can't save changes to Global Configuration new 1.5.10 SOLVED - Joomla! Forum - community, help and support

i'm getting error on fresh install of joomla 1.5.10, when try edit global configuration:
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forbidden
you don't have permission access /test/administrator/index.php on server.

additionally, 404 not found error encountered while trying use errordocument handle request.
apache/1.3.41 server @ http://www.judithrobl.com port 80
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this shared hosting through primehost. first install on server. encourage customers use bluehost, have used hostgator -- haven't seen 1 before.
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system info:
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php built on: linux raptor.velociserve.net 2.6.18-53.1.21.el5pae #1 smp tue may 20 10:03:06 edt 2008 i686
database version: 5.0.67-community
database collation: utf8_general_ci
php version: 5.2.8
web server: apache 3
web server php interface: cgi
joomla! version: joomla! 1.5.10 production/stable [ wohmamni ] 27-march-2009 23:00 gmt
user agent: mozilla/5.0 (windows; u; windows nt 5.1; en-us; rv:1.9.0.10) gecko/2009042316 firefox/3.0.10

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i can add articles , other setup changes, not edit global configuration. i'm working in password protected sub-directory -- test -- there .htaccess file in use. looks (at glance) 1 i've used before on other servers...
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##
# @version $id: htaccess.txt 10492 2008-07-02 06:38:28z ircmaxell $
# @package joomla
# @copyright copyright (c) 2005 - 2008 open source matters. rights reserved.
# @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html gnu/gpl
# joomla! free software
##


#####################################################
# read if choose use file
#
# line below section: 'options +followsymlinks' may cause problems
# server configurations. required use of mod_rewrite, may already
# set server administrator in way dissallows changing in
# .htaccess file. if using causes server error out, comment out (add # to
# beginning of line), reload site in browser , test sef url's. if work,
# has been set server administrator , not need set here.
#
#####################################################

## can commented out if causes errors, see notes above.
options +followsymlinks

#
# mod_rewrite in use

rewriteengine on

########## begin - rewrite rules block out common exploits
## if experience problems on site block out operations listed below
## attempts block common type of exploit `attempts` joomla!
#
# block out script trying set mosconfig value through url
rewritecond %{query_string} mosconfig_[a-za-z_]{1,21}(=|\%3d) [or]
# block out script trying base64_encode crap send via url
rewritecond %{query_string} base64_encode.*\(.*\) [or]
# block out script includes <script> tag in url
rewritecond %{query_string} (\<|%3c).*script.*(\>|%3e) [nc,or]
# block out script trying set php globals variable via url
rewritecond %{query_string} globals(=|\[|\%[0-9a-z]{0,2}) [or]
# block out script trying modify _request variable via url
rewritecond %{query_string} _request(=|\[|\%[0-9a-z]{0,2})
# send blocked request homepage 403 forbidden error!
rewriterule ^(.*)$ index.php [f,l]
#
########## end - rewrite rules block out common exploits

# uncomment following line if webserver's url
# not directly related physical file paths.
# update joomla! directory (just / root)

# rewritebase /


########## begin - joomla! core sef section
#
rewritecond %{request_filename} !-f
rewritecond %{request_filename} !-d
rewritecond %{request_uri} !^/index.php
rewritecond %{request_uri} (/|\.php|\.html|\.htm|\.feed|\.pdf|\.raw|/[^.]*)$ [nc]
rewriterule (.*) index.php
rewriterule .* - [e=http_authorization:%{http:authorization},l]
#
########## end - joomla! core sef section


authtype basic
authname "under development"
authuserfile "/home/iturbi/.htpasswds/public_html/test/passwd"
require valid-user

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anyone have ideas?

i've tried removing .htaccess file completely. same problem. i've tried manually editing configuration.php , adding livesite. doesn't seem help. i've developed in test directory on other servers...many times. missing?

feeling noob here...

i start shutting off seo. recommend full re-install. if possible unzip files on remote server make sure not missing files , uploaded files not have encoding or permission errors.