Problem with FSFE gpg card

[Edward Robinson]

Henry Bremridge wrote:
>> I think it may depend on how you backed up your keyring.  If you copied 
>> the .gnupg folder, then you could do:
>>
>>  gpg --homedir <backup_usb_stick>
> 
> Removed my card and then tried 
> 
> $gpg --homedir <backup_directory> -d file.gpg
> 
> and got the following message
> 
> gpg: anonymous recipient; trying secret key <xxxxxx> ...
> gpg: detected reader `SCM SCR 335 00 00'
> gpg: pcsc_connect failed: no smartcard (0x8010000c)
> gpg: apdu_send_simple(0) failed: no card
> Please insert the card and hit return or enter 'c' to cancel: c

Did you generate your secret keys on the card?  If so, you can only decrypt 
the file with the private key on the card (since it does not exist anywhere 
else).  However, if you also encrypted the file with your master public key 
(likely to be a 2048 elgamel key) then that should have tried your private key 
in the the backed up keyring.  Did you set the hidden-encrypt line in your 
gpg.conf?

Read section 6.9 of this:
https://www.fsfe.org/en/card/howto/subkey_howto

> if I just entered
> 
> $gpg --homedir <backupdirectory>
> 
> Then I get 
> 
> gpg: Go ahead and type your message ...

That's fine, your just doing `gpg' except your specifying where the homedir is 
located.  Type gpg  on its own and it would be the same but using .gnupg as 
your home dir.

> I have got to be making a silly mistake somewhere. Will take the time the to reread the manuals slowly and the set up commands of the card

Possibly, but then again I am not an expert, so someone may come along and put 
you straight!

Cheers,

Edd