Stored User Names and Passwords Feature Interoperability at a Command Prompt

You can use the Stored User Names and Passwords feature that is included in Windows XP at a command prompt.

By default, the Stored User Names and Passwords feature creates a "key" for any connection that you make in the graphical user interface (GUI) that requires alternate credentials. When you make a connection at a command prompt by using the net use command and by passing alternate credentials, a key is not created.

For the net use command to save the credentials in Credential Manager, use the /savecred switch. When you use the /savecred switch, any credentials that you are prompted for when you use the net use command are saved as a key. Therefore, if you are prompted for the user name and password (or if you are prompted only for the password) when you use the net use command (but not because you used an asterisk [*] in the net use command for password prompting) and the /savecred switch, the credentials are saved. For example, when you type one of the following commands at a command prompt, a key is stored in the Stored Username and Passwords feature for the resource when the connection is made:

• When you type the net use * \\computer_name\share_name /savecred command, the user is prompted for a user name, and then the user is prompted for a password.
• When you type the net use * \\computer_name\share_name /u:domain_name\user_name /savecred command, the user is prompted for a password.

However, when you type one of the following commands, a key is not created:

• net use * \\computer_name\share_name * /user:domain_name\user_name /savecred
  
  -or-
• net use * \\computer_name\share_name * /savecred /user:domain_name\user_name

If you type net help use at a command prompt, more information is displayed about the net use command.

For additional information about Credential Manager, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: