Installing PGP Desktop in Windows XP
PGP Desktop can encrypt files into a format that is decryptable on both Windows and OS X versions of the software. This allows a Windows user to exchange encrypted files with an OS X user and vice-versa. PGP Desktop is sold as a commmercial product, but you can run the software in "freeware" mode which allows you to use the software for non-commercial use but with a lot of the features of the paid version of the software disabled. Enough of the software features remain enabled in the freeware mode to allow basic encryption/decryption of files between Windows and OS X.
Installing PGP Desktop
1. Download the free PGP Desktop Trial software for Windows XP.
You can download the program from the PGP company website by clicking here. Download the PGP Desktop trial version labeled "PGP Desktop Trial Software (Desktop Client Only)".
2. Install PGP Desktop Trial.
Double-click on the installer to begin running the setup program. Click English to proceed through the installation
Read the license and check I accept the licence agreement. Click Next to proceed with the installation.
Click Next again at the "Readme Information" screen.
Click Yes to restart your computer so that the installation changes to your computer can take effect.
When Windows restarts, the PGP Setup Assistant will automatically start up. When asked to enable PGP for your user account, select Yes and then press Next.
You do not need to proceed with the rest of the PGP Setup Assistant because the remaining settings are primarily for setting up the advanced features of PGP which are not enabled in the freeware mode. Click the Cancel button to close the wizard.
Click Yes to confirm quitting the assistant.
3. Convert the install to freeware mode.
Go to the Start menu and select All Programs. Select PGP and then the PGP Desktop application.
Within the PGP Desktop application, click on Help and then License...
Click the Change License button..
Type your information in the screen and then click Next.
Select Use without a license and disable most functionality which puts the software into freeware mode and then click Next.
Click Next again.
Click Finish to close the License Assistant wizard.
4. Disable the PGP Email Proxy feature so that it does not cause errors with your email application.
While PGP Desktop is still open, disable the Use PGP Email Proxy option since that is a pay version feature. You can do this by clicking the PGP Desktop menu option Tools and ensuring the option Use PGP Email Proxy is unchecked.
5. Quit the PGP Desktop application.
6. Notice the PGP Shredder on desktop.
This will securely erase files on your computer such that they cannot be retreived with file restoration programs. To use this, just drag and drop the file you want to securely erase into the PGP Shredder icon on your desktop similar to how you drag and drop files to the Windows Recycle Bin.
