This is from Microsoft
quote:
Stored User Names and Passwords is a mechanism that dynamically and manually creates credential sets (a user name and password) for resources. This functionality is available from the graphical user interface (GUI) and from the command line. The types of credentials that you can manage with Stored User Names and Passwords are: • User names and passwords
• X.509 certificates (smart cards)
• Passports
Note: Windows XP Home Edition stores only Remote Access Services/Virtual Private Networking and Passport credentials. You must be logged on as Local Administrator to see the list of "Stored User Names and Passwords."
The most common scenarios for using Stored User Names and Passwords is when a user attempts to access one of the following: • Resources in an untrusted domain
• Resources with alternative credentials
• A Web site with a password
• A Web site with a certificate
To access these credentials in Control Panel: • Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional in a workgroup:
In the User Accounts tool, select the logged-on user account.
• Windows XP Professional in a domain:
In the User Accounts tool, on the Advanced tab, click Manage Passwords.
In Stored User Names and Passwords, keys are created dynamically and manually.
DYNAMIC keys are created in the following way: 1. A user attempts to connect to \\server\share.
2. The user's logon credentials are attempted. If these do not gain access, Stored User Names and Passwords prompts.
3. Credentials are put in Stored User Names and Passwords after it successfully connects, or if Cancel is clicked on a returned error message.
The following options are available for the Stored User Names and Passwords prompt: • Username
• Password
• Remember my password
MANUAL Keys are created in the following way: 1. Start the Stored User Names and Passwords tool in Control Panel.
2. Click New.
3. Type the appropriate information in the boxes: • Server: Use the hostname, FQDN, wildcards, and so forth.
• User Name: Domain\Username; Machine\Username; UPN.
• Password: Type the password.
• Use this user name and password for: • The current logon session only: Lives for this session only; gone at logoff.
• This user account on this computer: Lives on this machine; persists between logoffs/reboots.
• This user account on any computer: Same as the previous AND gets written the roaming file.
Stored User Names and Passwords connection objects (keys) can be created manually to various entities: • specific resource: server.domain.forest.com
• less specific set of resources: *.domain.forest.com (all resources in domain.forest.com)
• very general set of resources: *.forest.com (all resources in forest.com)
If there are multiple credentials that can apply to a target resource, Stored User Names and Passwords in Windows XP SP1 and later uses the most specific credential. For example, a user attempts to connect to \\server, which is server.domain.forest.com. The user may have credentials for the server, *.domain.forest.com, and *.forest.com. In this scenario, the most specific credential applicable is for the server itself, so that is the one used.
For additional information Stored User Names and Passwords, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Unless you have access to control panel you'd probably have to hack for the password and that could get you into a LOT of trouble..