I want to permanently delete SSL certificate from Windows Server 2008. What I did is open up the mmc window and selected the certificate from the machine store and click delete. This removed the certificate from the certificate store. I just want to know if this action deleted the certificate completely from the machine and want to make sure that its private key is also deleted. The action I did is correct or not?
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1 Answer
Yes, the key will be deleted with the certificate. You would need to export them first if you want to be able to restore them at some point.
- When I import certificate, a file is created under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys. But when I delete certificate it does not delete file from that location.Kumar– Kumar2012-09-17 13:30:11 +00:00Commented Sep 17, 2012 at 13:30
- I mean is it safe to leave the files in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys once I delete certificate from mmc.Kumar– Kumar2012-09-17 15:02:33 +00:00Commented Sep 17, 2012 at 15:02
- That file is a container for keys. The actual key will be removed from the container when the key is deleted.Ansgar Wiechers– Ansgar Wiechers2012-09-17 16:28:38 +00:00Commented Sep 17, 2012 at 16:28