Problem using git on Windows 7 with msysgit and .ssh keys

Question

I'm using git on my Ubuntu machine with my existing ssh keys.

Now I have to use Git on Windows 7, and need to use the same keypairs.
I have set up msysgit and created an .ssh folder in Users\username\.ssh.
I have copied my keypair from Ubuntu's .ssh folder to this folder.

But when I try to clone the Git repo, it stops and asks for the password.
According to some tutorials, I should have some options during the msysgit installation regarding ssh, but I saw none.
Do you have any suggestions to solve this?

Solution

You need to set your HOME environment variable to whatever directory you selected for creating the .ssh folder (it doesn't have to be necessarily Users\username\).

%HOME% isn't a native environment variable (%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH% or %USERPROFILE% is), and the mingw Unix-like session of msysgit is entirely based on the $HOME value.

Comments

[Burre]

Thanks, but how do I add this HOME env. variable?

[VonC]

@Burre: simply define a User environment variable called HOME in your Windows settings, like described in itechtalk.com/thread3595.html.

[bgerth]

HOMEPATH does not suffice, it should either be %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH% or %USERPROFILE%

[VonC]

@bgerth Thank you, I have belatedly edited the answer.