netsh wlan add profile not importing encrypted passphrase

Posted by sirlancelot on Super User See other posts from Super User or by sirlancelot
Published on 2010-04-20T20:21:04Z Indexed on 2010/04/21 16:13 UTC
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I exported a wireless network connection profile from a Windows 7 machine correctly connected to a WiFi network with a WPA-TKIP passphrase. The exported xml file shows the correct settings and a keyMaterial node which I can only guess is the encrypted passphrase.

When I take the xml to another Windows 7 computer and import it using netsh wlan add profile filename="WiFi.xml", it correctly adds the profile's SSID and encryption type, but a balloon pops up saying that I need to enter the passphrase.

Is there a way to import the passphrase along with all other settings or am I missing something about adding profiles?

Here is the exported xml with personal information removed:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<WLANProfile xmlns="http://www.microsoft.com/networking/WLAN/profile/v1">
    <name>[removed]</name>
    <SSIDConfig>
        <SSID>
            <hex>[removed]</hex>
            <name>[removed]</name>
        </SSID>
        <nonBroadcast>false</nonBroadcast>
    </SSIDConfig>
    <connectionType>ESS</connectionType>
    <connectionMode>auto</connectionMode>
    <autoSwitch>false</autoSwitch>
    <MSM>
        <security>
            <authEncryption>
                <authentication>WPAPSK</authentication>
                <encryption>TKIP</encryption>
                <useOneX>false</useOneX>
            </authEncryption>
            <sharedKey>
                <keyType>passPhrase</keyType>
                <protected>true</protected>
                <keyMaterial>[removed]</keyMaterial>
            </sharedKey>
        </security>
    </MSM>
</WLANProfile>

Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Update: It seems if I export the settings using key=clear, the passphrase is stored in the file unprotected and I can import the file on another computer without issue. I've updated my question to reflect my findings.

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