UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi everybody:

here is my tale: I need to create some ssl certificates, so I did it with my Linux; I created de CA key and all the other stuff, and of course the certificates needed.
The thing is I had to replace mi hard drive and I backed up all the info but I forgot to backup the /etc/ssl.
Of course that I have a copy of the CA key and the CA certificate (cacert.pem and cakey.pem) and I restored it to the new box, but when I try to sign a certificate with the CA key, ssl complains about the wrong password.
I'm sure I'm entering the right password, so here is the question:
is it enogh to have the CA key and CA cert or there is other files from the /etc/ssl that I should backed-up to have the CA key working properly.

If I need more than these two files to sign as a CA I'm lost 'cause I don't have the old /etc/ssl ( I have only cacert.pem and cakey.pem)

Note: the linux is, in both cases, the same.

Thanks a lot and sorry for the long mail and my poor English.