How to find stored login name of MSN messenger with C# or VB.NET?

Question

I have multiple chat programs (e.g. MSN, Yahoo *Messenger*, ICQ etc.) where the login name is stored, and I only need to type in the password to log on to in. But it's a hassle to open each and every chat program then login.

So, I attempt to write an application where it fetches all these stored chat program's user name into one application under a single window/form (similar to meebo.com, but I'm doing a desktop app version). User can then login in to any chat program in one application.

The first step is: how can I get or where do I look for the stored user name of a chat program? I looked into Credential Manager, but it isn't helpful.

[EDIT] Please don't tell me to use existing software, I would like to write my own :)

thanks. I know such things exist, but I would want to learn how to write one my own to understand how things work. — KMC, Dec 29 '11 at 06:36
i hear you. i'm the same way. but i gotta plug good, free software when i get the chance. — codeConcussion, Dec 29 '11 at 06:39

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 28 '11 at 10:32

1

MSN Messenger stores the username and password in the Credentials Manager. To access this, you can use the following API by Microsoft.

Credential Management with the .NET Framework 2.0

answered Dec 28 '11 at 10:32

Tomislav Markovski

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The document does not says how to access it, and none of the code compiles. I think it is something else. Please see my revised question. – KMC Dec 29 '11 at 06:25

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 30 '11 at 08:42

Spend hours reading Credential Management and find no solution - of may be I do not understand it. Found an easier way out just by reading the registry. It happens that login name of chatting program have their login name saved in the registry as a subkey folder.

How to find stored login name of MSN messenger with C# or VB.NET?

2 Answers2