Automatically log into a secure directory and download a file

I have an XP Pro machine that runs IIS 5.1. What if I want the users of the web server to log into their private directory without manually enter their usernames and passwords? In other words, can I create an URL with the username and password as part of the URL? This way, all the user has to do is click on the hot link and he is automatically anthenticated and either see the contents of the directory or even better, download the file right away.

What if I do not want to run IIS? Can this be done on a really simple web server that only serves static pages. In this case, it does not need to serve any webpages at all. It simply is an Internet file server with authentication.

 

what's u'r environment? intranet/internet or just a local network?