But hang on-Vista does one other thing to help you complete the procedure (which XP and e.arlier versions of Windows did not). The instant you start the actual encryption, a notification appears on the icon tray asking if you want to back up your encryption certificate and key. Click the notification to open the EFS backup dialog. The importance of this backup is clear from the item descriptions on the dialog-Back up now is recommended, but choosing Back up later means that when you next log on, Vista won't let you forget. The final option Never back up, is for risk takers only: If you do not back up your encryption certificate and key, and you subsequently reinstall Vista or otherwise damage your user account, you won't be able to access the encrypted files at all.



Clicking Back up now (recommended) opens the Certificate Export Wizard. Select the first option, to export the private key, and click Next. While the wizard displays a variety of encryption file formats, all but one, Personal Information Exchange (PFX), are grayed outfit's the only one Vista EFS supports. You can back up all of your personal user certificates at this time by checking the first available option (not necessary if this is your first encryption).

Click Next and type a password-as with all other passwords designed for security, don't make it an easy one. On the next screen, type a name for your file (any name will do, and Vista adds the PFX extension automatically), and click Next to reveal the wizard's confirmation screen. Click Finish. (If you don't back up immediately, this wizard is also available from the Certificate Manager, accessed by typing certmg r. msc in the Search box at the bot¬tom of the Start menu. In the left-hand pane, drill down to Personal I Certificates, then in the right-hand pane, seiect all the certificates and then choose.