# 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: <a href="../gpg.bat">gpg.bat</a>
   * 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:
      * <code>C:\Users\foo> <b>mkdir AppData</b>
      * C:\Users\foo> <b>cd AppData</b>
      * C:\Users\foo\AppData> <b>mkdir Roaming</b>
      * C:\Users\foo\AppData> <b>cd Roaming</b>
      * C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming> <b>mkdir gnupg</b></code>
 1. Download this GPG configuration file (insures a strong key will be created)
   * Do "Right-click, Save As..." this file: <a href="../gpg.conf">gpg.conf</a>
   * 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> <b>cd \Users\foo</b></code>
   * C:\Users\foo>
 1. Proceed to the [[Next|gpg2]] step

[[!img gpg1.png align=left]]

[[!tag e-mail gpg]]