Windows 2000 Quick Fixes

Move certificates to another computer

If you use two or more computers, such as a primary computer at the office and one at home or a notebook for travel, you might want to have your certificates on each one. This simplifies sending and receiving digitally signed or encrypted messages, enabling you to perform those tasks on each machine. You don’t need to obtain separate certificates for each computer; you just need to export the certificates to a file.

Export and import certificates

You can export certificates from Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, or the Certificates MMC console. In all cases, Windows 2000 uses the Certificate Export Wizard to accomplish the task. The result is a certificate file that you can copy to and import onto the other computer(s).

Here’s how to get your certificates onto a second computer:

1. In Internet Explorer, choose Tools → Internet Options, click the Content tab, and click Certificates.

   In Outlook Express, choose Tools → Options, click the Security tab, and click Digital IDs.

   In the Certificates console, open the branch Certificates\Current User\Personal\Certificates.

   In IE or OE, select the certificate you want to export and click Export. If you’re using the Certificates console, right-click the certificate and choose All Tasks → Export.

2. Click Next after the Certificate Export Wizard starts.

3. Choose Yes, export the private key, and click Next.

4. Accept the default settings for Export File Format and click Next.

5. Specify a password to protect the certificate ...