Unable to decrypt/verify from own machine

Grant Olson kgo at grant-olson.net
Tue Mar 2 23:45:42 CET 2010


On 3/2/2010 5:31 PM, 20 Ton Squirrel wrote:
> 
> The Setup
> I run Windows XP using GnuPG version 1.4.10.  
> 
> A client and I have exchanged our keys.  I successfully imported his key and
> attempted to encrypt a file to send him.  My command line is as follows:
> 
> gpg --passphrase mypassphrase --compress-algo 1 --cipher-algo cast5 -u
> me at myemail.com -r client at hisemail.com -o
> C:\user\encryption\out\targetFile.xls.gpg -se
> C:\user\encryption\in\targetFile.xls
> 
> The Problem
> When trying to decrypt or verify the encrypted file, I get the following
> error:
> No secret key available Keyring does not have the secret key
> (0xA352B4E9003B38FA) needed to decrypt this message.
> 
> My key's ID is 1F1EA8F8 and the client's ID is 5872AF6A.  I have no idea why
> it would be asking for A352B4E9003B38FA.
> 
> This is likely a beginner's mistake, but I'm at a loss!
> 

You'll need to add yourself as a recipient in addition to the client (-r
me at myemail.com) or *you* won't ever be able to decrypt the file.

Also, what is the encryption subkey for the user's key id?  If you run
"gpg --list-keys 5872AF6A".  My guess you'll see the encryption subkey:
"003B38FA"  Something like:

sub   2048R/003B38FA 2010-01-11 [expires: 2011-03-01]

You also might want to consider a front end to gpg that ties into
explorer.  Like GPGShell or gpgEX.  It can make things easier on you.

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