Transferring your Digital Certificate to another computer

Your Digital Certificate can only be installed on one computer. If you need to transfer it from one computer to another (e.g. you have a new computer or your work location changes), there are three stages you need to follow, in order.

Before you begin

We recommend you transfer your Digital Certificate during supported hours so our Customer Support staff can provide assistance if required.

You will need the following:

  • The passphrase for your Digital Certificate. (You will have created this when you originally loaded your Digital Certificate. It has ten to sixteen characters with at least one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter and one numeric character.)
  • A portable storage device (USB flash drive or memory stick).
  • A copy of these instructions so you can refer to them. Either print them out or display them on another device if possible.

If you need assistance please contact the LINZ Customer Support team on 0800 ONLINE (0800 665 463).

Stage 1: Transfer your Digital Certificate to a portable storage device

Landonline Digital Certificate User Obligations state that your Digital Certificate must not be archived in any location. For this reason you must transfer it, not copy it.

What to do

  1.  Close all files and applications on the computer holding your Digital Certificate.

  2. On your keyboard, hold down the Windows key  

    windows icons

    and press E to open Windows File Explorer.
     

    Windows key highlighted on a computer keyboard
 

  1. Once Explorer opens, navigate to where your LINZ Certificates folder is stored, and click on the LINZ Certificates folder to highlight it. 

    Explorer window with LINZ certification folder highlighted
 

Tips!

  • By default, this should be in your C:\ Drive. However, it will depend on where your system administrator allows you to store the certificate.
  • Click on the arrow to the left of each drive to expand and see the folders within. 

If you cannot find the LINZ Certificates folder check with your IT team or a colleague to find where certificates are normally stored.

  1. In the main view of your Explorer, click once on your username to highlight your Digital Certificate. 

    Explorer with username highlighted
 

  1. On your keyboard, press the Ctrl and X keys at the same time to move your Digital Certificate. 

    Keyboard with Ctrl and X highlighted

    (Alternate option: Right-click your username to display a menu and left-click on Cut.)

 

  1. Insert your portable storage device into your computer's data storage device drive or USB port. 

    A USB drive being put into a USB port on a computer
 

  1. Your portable storage device will be assigned its own letter. (In the example below E:\ is assigned to the USB Drive but it could be any drive.)
    Click on the drive to select it, then on your keyboard press Ctrl and V at the same time to paste your Digital Certificate to the drive.  

    CTRL and V keys highlighted on a keyboard

    (Alternate option: Right-click the drive to display a menu and left-click on Paste.)

 
  1. Your Digital Certificate is now transferred from your computer to your portable storage device. Remove the portable storage device from your computer. 9 You are now ready to continue to Stage 2: Load your Digital Certificate onto another computer.

Stage 2: Load your Digital Certificate onto another computer

Make sure you have completed Stage 1: Transfer your Digital Certificate to a portable storage device before you begin.

What to do

  1. On your keyboard, hold down the Windows key 

    windows icons

    and press E to open Windows File Explorer.
     

  2. Once Explorer opens, click on (C:) Windows or the drive your system administrator has given you rights to write to.
     

Key point!

The exact name of the drive may differ on your computer.

Explorer window with Windows drive highlighted

  1. Right-click on the drive where you will save the certificate, to display the menu, then left-click New > then Folder. 

    Explorer with New Folder highlighted
 

  1. Name the new folder LINZ Certificates. This is where you will store the Digital Certificate from your portable storage device. 

    New folder named LINZ Certificate
 
  1. Insert your portable storage device into your new computer's data storage device drive or USB port. 

  2. In your Explorer window, click your device drive to highlight it. 

    Explorer window with portable media device highlighted
 

  1. In the main view of your Explorer, click on the Digital Certificate to highlight it. 

    Main view of Explorer with digital certificate highlighted
 

  1. On your keyboard press Ctrl and X at the same time to move your Digital Certificate. 

    The CTRL and X keys highlighted on a keyboard
 

Alternative option

In the main view of your Explorer, right-click on your Digital Certificate to display a menu, and left-click on Cut.

  1. Go back to your new LINZ Certificates folder (that you created at Step 4) and on your keyboard press Ctrl and V together to paste your Digital Certificate to the folder.

    Your Digital certificate is transferred from your portable storage device to your new folder. 

    LINZ certificates folder in Explorer side menu
 

Alternate option

Right-click the LINZ Certificates folder to display a menu and left-click on Paste.)

  1. Open your LINZ Certificates folder and double-click on the Digital Certificate. This will open a Certificate Import Wizard box. 

    Linz certificates folder with digtial certificate highlighted
 

  1. Click Next on the Certificate Import Wizard. 

    Certificate import wizard with Next button highlighted
 

  1. Click Next again. 

    Certificate import wizard file selection screen with next button highlighted
 

  1. Enter your unique Digital Certificate passphrase in the Password field. The Import Wizard calls this a Password 

    Password field circled in red
 

Note:

If the passphrase you entered is not accepted, please contact the LINZ Customer Support team 0800 665 463 for assistance.

  1. Check the Import options boxes as in the screenshot.
    Click Next. 

    Certificate import wizard with option checkboxes and next button highlighted

  2. Ensure Automatically select the certificate store based on the type of certificate is checked.
    Click Next. 

    Certificate import wizard Automatically select the certificate highlighted
 

  1. Click Finish. 

    Completing the Certificate Import Wizard screen with FInish highlighted
 

  1. Click OK. 

    Security warning with OK highlighted
 

  1. Click OK.
    You have now completed Stage 2 by successfully loading your Digital Certificate onto your new computer 

    Import successful window with OK highlighted
 
  1. Confirm the Digital Certificate is working on your new computer – log on to Landonline.

Note:

Your original Landonline User ID and Landonline User password will still be valid for logging on to Landonline.

  1. You are now ready to continue to Stage 3: Delete your Digital Certificate from your old computer.

Stage 3: Delete your Digital Certificate from your old computer

Remove your Digital Certificate from your old computer once transferred to your new computer to maintain security.

Make sure you have completed Stage 2: Load your Digital Certificate onto another computer before you begin.

What to do

  1. Recommended option: Start (Windows) menu
    At the bottom left of your screen, click on the Start button (Windows icon).
    1. Type ‘Internet Options’. There may not be a search bar to type in, but if you start typing whilst the Start menu is expanded, a search bar should appear automatically as you begin to type.

    2. Click on Internet Options. 

      Windows search bar with Internet Options entered
 

Other options

  • If you use Internet Explorer: Open Internet Explorer, click Tools, and click Internet Options.
  • If you use Mozilla Firefox:
    • For newer versions of Firefox go to Options > Privacy & Security > Certificates, and click the View Certificates button.
    • For older versions of Firefox go to Tools > Options > Advanced, and click the View Certificates button in the bottom left.

  1. Click the Content tab, and click Certificates, then OK. 

    Internet properties, content tab with Certificates button highlighted
 

  1. Click on your Landonline Digital Certificate, click Remove, then Close. 

    Certificates window with LINZ digital certificate selected
 

  1. Click Yes. 

    Certificates warning message with Yes highlighted
 

  1. Click Close. You have successfully removed your Digital Certificate from your old computer. 

    Certificates window with Close button highlighted