backup & restore private key without kleopatra

Gpg4win help-en
1

Hi,

I am using portable version of GPG4Win (Version 2.x). It is a non-install binary ready to be used, doesn’t have kleopatra.

Now, how can export(backup) & import(restore) my private key in case of disaster recovery?

are there any gpg2 command line options? I tried normal --export-secret-key & --import, but the imported key is unusable, meaning it has “sec#” when I list the private keys.

Please help!!!

Thanks
Smitha

2

Just for completeness: With kleopatra the procedure is documented here: http://gpg4win.de/doc/en/gpg4win-compendium_25.html

I believe without it, you can just backup the public and secret keyrings.

Or if you must use --export-secret-key you also need to export and import the
public certificate as well. (As far as I remember.)

3

Thanks for the reply.

What is the use of maintaining a back-up if I am unable to use the secret key in any manner.

I wonder if --export-secret-key has any use at all?

Thanks

4

https://www.gnupg.org/documentation/manuals/gnupg/Operational-GPG-Commands.html :“This is normally not very useful and a security risk.”

You can use it, but you will have to import the corresponding public certificate separately (AFAIR).

5

Found another hack on net,

http://montemazuma.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/moving-a-gpg-key-privately/

6

Thanks for following up and posting the link. That’s an interesting way to do it. Seems to work in cmd.exe as well using the “type” command in place of “cat”.