SSH using PK from Windows

[System Administrator <sysadmin_lists iwa-solutions com>]

Yes, this is a perfect example of why we should 'just get rid of windows'.  
But.....that is not an option right now.  

I am trying to setup SSH with public-key encription to a RH8 box.  I am 
running OpenSSH 3.4p2.  All default setup.

Of course the other *UX boxes manage just fine (thanks to a VERY good write-up 
from akadia.com).  

The Windows (NT,2000) systems, on the other hand, can't seem to get it right.  
I have tried ssh secure shell.  I found writeups on the website. But it 
Didn't work.  but not diags to see why.  I try putty and geta message saying 
"Key is of wrong type (PuTTY SSH2 private key)" .  If I look at the actual 
entry (authorized_keys) in the .ssh folder, it list the entry as "public 
key".  Again I followed the documentation to generate the keys.  At least I 
think I did.

Any insights will be appreciated.  
-- 
Leon Sonntag
Systems Administrator