Windows 7: certificate

The bkf files are not recognised in Windows 7........

sup3rsprt , Just wondering if it might be possible to change the status of this thread to be unsolved so that it might get wider attention.......no disresprect intended whatsoever !

If 7 can't open it then I suppose you'll have to try restoring that backup on an XP computer or virtual machine. And we'll go from there.

Sure thing. I think Barman58 took care of it for us.

I've never had to restore a backup before.

I'm thinking of just using a new HDD in this laptop, re-installing XP and then restoring the backup.....

.....Will it just restore over the top of the existing XP install ? Is there anything special I need to do ? Is there a way I could just restore the certificate from the backup ?

More generally, supposing I manage to revert back to XP, is there any way I can get the certificate into Windows 7, given that the option to export the private key was not available when I backed it up ?

When I originally installed the cert, I was given an alphanumeric code. That wouldn't be the private key by any chance would it ? [please excuse my ignorance]

Private keys are stored here:
c:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA

Public keys and certs are here:
c:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My\Certificates

The problem with private keys is that they are encrypted by a Data Protection API. So in order to recover a private key you will probably need to get the machine as close to the original state as possible.

You may want to read up on the DPAPI to see what I mean. Particularly,

Example: Certificates and Private Keys

+

You Cannot Access DPAPI Confidential Information After Reinstalling Windows on a Stand-Alone Computer

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Thanks again.

Does it mean I can just copy from one machine to the other once (if) I get it back in the original state ?

I've just bought a new HDD to install XP so I'll also have the Windows 7 install if this problem can be resolved.

Another problem I have is that I don't have my original XP x64 installation disc or recovery discs, so I'm going to try doing a clean install of 32 bit XP (for which I have the cd) and then restoring my x64 backup. Hope it works (quite worried about it). I'll be offline for an hour or so doing that, so I'll check back here with an update then.....

I doubt that it is going to be as simple as copying files from one machine to the other.

You can download the 64-bit trial from Microsoft here:

http://www.microsoft.com/spain/windo...ion/trial.mspx

(Unfortunately, the trial doesn't seem to be available on the English site any longer. If you need help translating use Google translate.)

I had a quick look at the links you provided, and from my limited understanding, it would seem to be impossible. Am I missing something ?


Thanks. Just downloaded it. I tried the 32 bit route and that was a complete failure !

I don't think it is impossible. Just difficult.

You have a backup of your original installation, so everything needed to recover the cert must be there.