--encrypt does not return to command prompt

[Seth Spearman]

Hello,

I am a (brand) new user of gnupg.

I am using the ms windows build of gnupg.

I have the gnupg stuff installed and I have created my own pub/sec keyrings.

That works fine.  I also have no problem importing public keys.

But I have not yet successfully encrypted and decrypted a file (using my own
keyset).

When I run the following line at the command prompt, it **never returns to
the command prompt** but it does create a file:
gpg --output tdeck.gpg --encrypt --recipient sethspearman@charter.net  (I DO
NOT SEE IN SYNTAX HOW TO TELL WHICH FILE TO ENCRYPT).

It DOES NOT return to the c prompt BUT DOES NOT appear to hang in any way.
I can type and space etc.  To get the prompt back I type ctrl-c or
ctrl-break

It does create the output file file but I do not know if it is any good.
Attempts to decrypt return errors as below:
gpg --output test.txt --decrypt tdeck.gpg
gpg: decrypt_message failed: eof

Could you please comment.  Could you also send sample scripts for encryption
and decryption.

Thx

Regards

Seth