When you log on to certain web sites, Internet Explorer asks you if you would like it to memorize your user name and password. When you choose to have Internet Explorer remember this data, these passwords get stored/hidden in a file called the ntuser.dat file (which resides within the "Documents & Settings" folder (XP) or "user" folder (Vista). Don't bother opening it with WordPad because the contents will look like encrypted alien characters. In order to view the hidden passwords contained within you can use 3rd party software such as ABF Password Recovery or Advanced Internet Explorer Password Recovery. This software only displays passwords from the same bootable computer that created the passwords, so you can't copy the ntuser.dat file off of an unbootable computer and view the passwords on another healthy computer. This article also explains how to recover passwords using this software.
Internet Explorer may store any or all of the following types of form field data: Internet Credentials, AutoComplete Data, AutoComplete Passwords, FTP Passwords, Synchronization Passwords for cached websites, Identities Passwords, AutoForms Data, and Content Advisor Password. To learn more about what these items are visit this page.
Internet Explorer can store and remember "form field data" such as user names and passwords which are used to log in to various web sites such as Facebook. "Form field data" is stored as encrypted data.
Unlike other browsers (such as Firefox), Internet Explorer does NOT allow for recovery of it's stored passwords off of a computer that won't boot because this data is encrypted. Ordinarily a "key" or certificate must first be exported while logged on to the computer under the user profile for which the password data belongs to. Otherwise the only way to recover Internet Explorer passwords is to repair the system to the point that it will boot to the desktop and function well enough to back up the password data. Repairing an unbootable system may be hit and miss, which is why creating a safety clone of your system C drive may ultimately save any critical secure data that you may have such as Internet Explorer passwords.
QUESTION: What about FireFox passwords, form field data, bookmarks, etc?
Firefox data is not encrypted, therefore this data can be recovered off of an unbootable computer.
Using Firefox you can also click Options > Options > Security tab > Saved Passwords > Show Passwords
CONCLUSION: So if you are reinstalling Windows you must save Internet Explorer form field data and passwords in a special way or they will be lost. If your computer has become unbootable and can't be restored (without reinstalling Windows) then Internet Explorer form field data and passwords will be lost.
