makecert error: Can't access the key of the subject

Question

I have a powershell script that I want to run on 2 different stand-alone machines. On Windows 8.1 with the SDK installed, I issue the command:

makecert -r -pe -n "CN=My Root Authority" -ss CA -sr CurrentUser ^
     -a sha1 -sky signature -cy authority -sv CA.pvk CA.cer

and I get back:

Error: Can't access the key of the subject ('CA.pvk')
Failed

CA.pvk gets created, but not CA.cer

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance, Geoff

Answer 1

Several confusing and unhelpful password prompts should pop up after running this command.

I got the same error message when I entered a different password in the second prompt to the one had I entered in the first.

Entering the same password in both the first and second pop-up screens got me past this.