Cannot Import Multiple Exported Personal Certificates Back to the Personal Store (305833)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000

This article was previously published under Q305833

SYMPTOMS

You can use Certificate Manager to export multiple personal certificates to a single file. When you attempt to import those certificates, you cannot place them back in the Personal store; you can place them only in the Other People store. If you choose Personal in the Import Wizard, you receive a message stating that the import was successful, but the certificates are not listed. If you allow the Import Wizard to determine where the certificate should go, it is placed in the Other People store.

CAUSE

Certificates in the Personal store must have a private key. If you export multiple certificates to a single file, the private key is not exported. During the import process, the wizard determines that there is no private key and correctly chooses to import the certificates in the Other People store. For information about the differences in the key categories, please refer to page 102 of the Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Resource Kit.

MORE INFORMATION

The only way to preserve the private keys when you export Personal certificates is to export each certificate individually.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/26/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB305833