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GPG Configuration on Windows for Secure Mail

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Install GPG

  1. Download GNU Privacy Guard
  2. Do "Right-click, Save As..." this file: gnupg.exe
  3. tip: If you want to read more about GPG see the GPG homepage
  4. Open (Run) that file to install GPG
  5. Download this GPG helper file (This makes it easier to run GPG)
  6. Do "Right-click, Save As..." this file: gpg.bat
  7. Save it to (or move it to) your HOME directory. If your username is foo then your HOME directory is C:\Users\foo
  8. You can now open a command window
  9. Start | All Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt
  10. list the contents of your HOME directory with dir (see screenshot below)
  11. You can make sure that gpg is installed (and the helper batch file works) by typing gpg --version
  12. Create a new GPG configuration directory
  13. This directory should be C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming\gnupg
  14. You can create it using Start | All Programs | Accessories | Windows Explorer
  15. 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
  16. Download this GPG configuration file (insures a strong key will be created)
  17. Do "Right-click, Save As..." this file: gpg.conf
  18. Save it to (or move it to) your GPG configuration directory you just created.
  19. It should be located at C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming\gnupg\gpg.conf
  20. If you want to know why this configuration is important please see OpenPGP for Debian
  21. Go back to your HOME directory
  22. C:\Users\foo\AppData\Roaming> cd \Users\foo
  23. C:\Users\foo>
  24. Proceed to the Next step