# GPG Configuration on Windows for Secure Mail **Beginning** | *step 1 of 5* | [[Next|gpg2]] ## Install GPG 1. Download GNU Privacy Guard * Do "Right-click, Save As..." this file: [[gnupg.exe|ftp://ftp.gnupg.org/gcrypt/binary/gnupg-w32cli-1.4.11.exe]] * *tip:* If you want to read more about GPG see the [[GPG homepage|http://www.gnupg.org/]] 1. Open (Run) that file to install GPG 1. Download this GPG helper file (This makes it easier to run GPG) * Do "Right-click, Save As..." this file: gpg.bat * Save it to (or move it to) your HOME directory. If your username is **foo** then your HOME directory is **C:\Users\foo** 1. You can now open a command window * *Start | All Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt* * list the contents of your HOME directory with **dir** (see screenshot below) * You can make sure that gpg is installed (and the helper batch file works) by typing **gpg --version** 1. Create a new GPG configuration directory * This directory should be **C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming\gnupg** * You can create it using *Start | All Programs | Accessories | Windows Explorer* * Alternatively you can do this in the command window: * C:\Users\foo> mkdir AppData * C:\Users\foo> cd AppData * C:\Users\foo\AppData> mkdir Roaming * C:\Users\foo\AppData> cd Roaming * C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming> mkdir gnupg 1. Download this GPG configuration file (insures a strong key will be created) * Do "Right-click, Save As..." this file: gpg.conf * Save it to (or move it to) your GPG configuration directory you just created. * It should be located at **C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming\gnupg\gpg.conf** * If you want to know why this configuration is important please see [[OpenPGP for Debian|http://www.debian-administration.org/users/dkg/weblog/48]] 1. Go back to your HOME directory * C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming> cd \Users\foo * C:\Users\foo> 1. Proceed to the [[Next|gpg2]] step [[!img gpg1.png align=left]] [[!tag e-mail gpg]]