I'm just getting started with Kgpg and encrypted some data files on my main desktop, using Kgpg 1.2.2 and KDE 3.5.10 on a Klikit-Linux (Kubuntu-based) setup. I just installed Kgpg on my Klikit-Linux laptop, and can't open the .asc files on the laptop that I encrypted on the desktop.

I imported (onto the laptop) my desktop's two public keys from the worldwide server, but I can't use them to decrypt files on the laptop because there are no secret keys for them on the laptop. Can I generate secret keys (for those same public keys) on the laptop without destroying my ability to decrypt those public-keys' .asc files on the desktop?

EDIT: After reading http://www.minihowto.org/encrypt_files_ ... howto.html I copied pubring and secring to the laptop, and a few test files decrypted OK. After a little more testing, or reassurance from a more experienced user, I'll mark this "SOLVED."

As the link says, you can only decrypt files using your secret key. If it was possible to decrypt files using public keys, anyone would be able to import public key files from web and decrypt those files, what would be the purpose of encryption then?

Now that you have copied your secret keys to laptop, you can decrypt any file that is encrypted using your public key. I hope I am not confusing you, in short, everything should work fine now.

Thanks... yes, I think I have it. The secret key that is used to decrypt a file has to be the one that is linked to the public key that was used to encrypt it.

Your response was not confusing at all! Thanks again.