Alex Rivera | Logout

sn.exe fails with Access Denied error message

Asked 2008-08-15T02:01:13.217
15

I get an Access is Denied error message when I use the strong name tool to create a new key to sign a .NET assembly. This works just fine on a Windows XP machine but it does not work on my Vista machine.

PS C:\users\brian\Dev\Projects\BELib\BELib> sn -k keypair.snk

Microsoft (R) .NET Framework Strong Name Utility  Version 3.5.21022.8
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

Failed to generate a strong name key pair -- Access is denied.

What causes this problem and how can I fix it?

Are you running your PowerShell or Command Prompt as an Administrator? I found this to be the first place to look until you get used to User Access Control or by turning User Access Control off.

Yes I have tried running PS and the regular command prompt as administrator. The same error message comes up.

.net strongname sn.exe
Edit
Report

1 Answer

2

Some people rebuild their machines to resolve this problem, but it can be solved by giving user access to the key container C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys Each container created using sn.exe -i is located in the MachineKeys directory (unless you specify elsewhere). The default key container that is used by sn.exe is also in that location.

In case you reset your key container to a new one, and forget where it is.. you can reset the key container for the strong name utility using sn.exe -c. So, if the account access fix doesn't work, you may be using an alternate key store so a reset may be in order.

answered 2009-02-24T05:53:48.643

Your Answer