title: PuTTY - Unable to use key file (not a private key)
body: <p>I have a PPK file and I am trying to have PuTTY use it, when I am connecting to a remote server. But I keep getting this error below, and then I am just asked for my username (while I should be directly allowed in as root).   </p>
  
  <p>I don't understand what the problem is, and what's worse I have no idea how to troubleshoot further. A colleague of mine is using the same file and says everything is OK on his side. So I am stuck.  </p>
  
  <p>I did a web search and all I find is recommendations to convert the PEM file into a PPK file. But that does not apply in my case, I already have a PPK file. </p>
  
  <p>I am using Windows on my local machine and the PPK file is located in <code>C:\ssh-keys\</code>  </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Unable to use key file "C:\ssh-keys\filename.ppk" (not a private key)<br>
    login as:</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Here is the header:   </p>
  
  <pre><code>filename.ppk
  ё  :           mBIN                ‚Ѓ&amp;  PuTTY-User-Key-File-2: ssh-rsa
  Encryption: none
  Comment: imported-openssh-key
  Public-Lines: 6
  </code></pre>