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MMC cannot open the file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\dsa.msc
On Windows Server 2003 I can no longer my open my Active Directory Users and Computers so I cannot create new users for my domain. I get the error message:
"MMC cannot open the file c:\winnt\system32\dsa.msc
This may be because the file does not exist, is not an MMC console, or was created by a later version of MMC. This may also be because you do not have sufficient access rights to the file."
Other info and things I have already tried:
1. I think this error happened after I tried to install SP2 a few weeks ago. It created some login problems for my users so I rolled it back to SP1. Everything was fine, but only just now I tried to create a new user and noticed this problem.
2. I get a similar message trying to manage my DNS, saying MMC cannot open ...dnsmgmt.msc I notice other people with similar errors cannot view their service, but I can view my services, so some MMC things are working while others are broken.
3. I have tried running "sfc /scannow" according to others' suggestions but it didn't solve the problem.
4. I tried to opening the file directly but it didn't run. I read another EE post (https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/22677182/MMC-cannot-open-the-file-c-winnt-system32-admgmt-msc.html?sfQueryTermInfo=1+cannot+file+mmc+open) which the person said they renamed the file, so I made "dsa copy 2.msc" and that runs so is a temporary workaround for me now.
5. I tried installing the SP1 Administration Tools Pack (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E487F885-F0C7-436A-A392-25793A25BAD7&displaylang=en). It completed and I even tried rebooting the server, but the problem still persists.
"MMC cannot open the file c:\winnt\system32\dsa.msc
This may be because the file does not exist, is not an MMC console, or was created by a later version of MMC. This may also be because you do not have sufficient access rights to the file."
Other info and things I have already tried:
1. I think this error happened after I tried to install SP2 a few weeks ago. It created some login problems for my users so I rolled it back to SP1. Everything was fine, but only just now I tried to create a new user and noticed this problem.
2. I get a similar message trying to manage my DNS, saying MMC cannot open ...dnsmgmt.msc I notice other people with similar errors cannot view their service, but I can view my services, so some MMC things are working while others are broken.
3. I have tried running "sfc /scannow" according to others' suggestions but it didn't solve the problem.
4. I tried to opening the file directly but it didn't run. I read another EE post (https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/22677182/MMC-cannot-open-the-file-c-winnt-system32-admgmt-msc.html?sfQueryTermInfo=1+cannot+file+mmc+open) which the person said they renamed the file, so I made "dsa copy 2.msc" and that runs so is a temporary workaround for me now.
5. I tried installing the SP1 Administration Tools Pack (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E487F885-F0C7-436A-A392-25793A25BAD7&displaylang=en). It completed and I even tried rebooting the server, but the problem still persists.
ASKER
Yes, the file exists. Note that above I stated that when I make a copy such as "dsa copy 2.msc" then that copied msc file opens correctly. So it doesn't seem like the original dsa.msc is corrupted.
I double-checked the Permissions and it is okay. Belongs to Administrators and I am logged in as an admin. I reset perms and ownership and still can't open it.
Opening manually: Start, Run, "mmc" etc. doesnt work and produces the same error message
I tried opening many of the msc files. They seem okay with the only 2 problematic ones being dsa.msc and dnsmgmt.msc - Like I said, making a copy makes it work! But if I rename even the copy back to dsa.msc or dnsmgmt.msc then it stops working!
I double-checked the Permissions and it is okay. Belongs to Administrators and I am logged in as an admin. I reset perms and ownership and still can't open it.
Opening manually: Start, Run, "mmc" etc. doesnt work and produces the same error message
I tried opening many of the msc files. They seem okay with the only 2 problematic ones being dsa.msc and dnsmgmt.msc - Like I said, making a copy makes it work! But if I rename even the copy back to dsa.msc or dnsmgmt.msc then it stops working!
I just want to clarify this.... so if you delete the orginal .dsa file and name the copy to the same name as the original it then stops working ?
Have you checked for viruses and the like ? Have you noticed any other oddities going on slow performance / response.. odd messages anything out of the ordinary ?
If you go to start run eventvwr does it show any errors under application or system?
A more radical approach I can think of is re registering the following dlls
start with these three first
dsadmin.dll
dnsmgr.dll
domadmin.dll
check the version of the above dlls too make sure they are the admin pack1 version.
if not also try reregistering all of these as these are all the dlls for the adminpack
create it as a batch file by copying and pasting below into a text file name it something like RegisterAdminPak.bat
put these into a batch file
----start-----------
regsvr32 /s adprop.dll
regsvr32 /s azroles.dll
regsvr32 /s azroleui.dll
regsvr32 /s ccfg95.dll
regsvr32 /s certadm.dll
regsvr32 /s certmmc.dll
regsvr32 /s certpdef.dll
regsvr32 /s certtmpl.dll
regsvr32 /s certxds.dll
regsvr32 /s cladmwiz.dll
regsvr32 /s clcfgsrv.dll
regsvr32 /s clnetrex.dll
regsvr32 /s cluadmex.dll
regsvr32 /s cluadmmc.dll
regsvr32 /s cmproxy.dll
regsvr32 /s cmroute.dll
regsvr32 /s cmutoa.dll
regsvr32 /s cnet16.dll
regsvr32 /s debugex.dll
regsvr32 /s dfscore.dll
regsvr32 /s dfsgui.dll
regsvr32 /s dhcpsnap.dll
regsvr32 /s dnsmgr.dll
regsvr32 /s domadmin.dll
regsvr32 /s dsadmin.dll
regsvr32 /s dsuiwiz.dll
regsvr32 /s imadmui.dll
regsvr32 /s lrwizdll.dll
regsvr32 /s mprsnap.dll
regsvr32 /s msclus.dll
regsvr32 /s mstsmhst.dll
regsvr32 /s mstsmmc.dll
regsvr32 /s nntpadm.dll
regsvr32 /s nntpapi.dll
regsvr32 /s nntpsnap.dll
regsvr32 /s ntdsbsrv.dll
regsvr32 /s ntfrsapi.dll
regsvr32 /s rasuser.dll
regsvr32 /s rigpsnap.dll
regsvr32 /s rsadmin.dll
regsvr32 /s rscommon.dll
regsvr32 /s rsconn.dll
regsvr32 /s rsengps.dll
regsvr32 /s rsjob.dll
regsvr32 /s rsservps.dll
regsvr32 /s rsshell.dll
regsvr32 /s rssubps.dll
regsvr32 /s rtrfiltr.dll
regsvr32 /s schmmgmt.dll
regsvr32 /s tapisnap.dll
regsvr32 /s tsuserex.dll
regsvr32 /s uddi.mmc.dll
regsvr32 /s vsstskex.dll
regsvr32 /s w95inf16.dll
regsvr32 /s w95inf32.dll
regsvr32 /s winsevnt.dll
regsvr32 /s winsmon.dll
regsvr32 /s winsrpc.dll
regsvr32 /s ws03res.dll
-----end batch
and then registr these for the MMC Console
Cic.dll
Mmc30.dll
Mmc30r.dll
Mmcbase.dll
Mmcex.dll
Mmcexr.dll
Mmcfxc.dll
Mmcfxcr.dll
Mmcndmgr.dll
Mmcshext.dll
Let me know
Have you checked for viruses and the like ? Have you noticed any other oddities going on slow performance / response.. odd messages anything out of the ordinary ?
If you go to start run eventvwr does it show any errors under application or system?
A more radical approach I can think of is re registering the following dlls
start with these three first
dsadmin.dll
dnsmgr.dll
domadmin.dll
check the version of the above dlls too make sure they are the admin pack1 version.
if not also try reregistering all of these as these are all the dlls for the adminpack
create it as a batch file by copying and pasting below into a text file name it something like RegisterAdminPak.bat
put these into a batch file
----start-----------
regsvr32 /s adprop.dll
regsvr32 /s azroles.dll
regsvr32 /s azroleui.dll
regsvr32 /s ccfg95.dll
regsvr32 /s certadm.dll
regsvr32 /s certmmc.dll
regsvr32 /s certpdef.dll
regsvr32 /s certtmpl.dll
regsvr32 /s certxds.dll
regsvr32 /s cladmwiz.dll
regsvr32 /s clcfgsrv.dll
regsvr32 /s clnetrex.dll
regsvr32 /s cluadmex.dll
regsvr32 /s cluadmmc.dll
regsvr32 /s cmproxy.dll
regsvr32 /s cmroute.dll
regsvr32 /s cmutoa.dll
regsvr32 /s cnet16.dll
regsvr32 /s debugex.dll
regsvr32 /s dfscore.dll
regsvr32 /s dfsgui.dll
regsvr32 /s dhcpsnap.dll
regsvr32 /s dnsmgr.dll
regsvr32 /s domadmin.dll
regsvr32 /s dsadmin.dll
regsvr32 /s dsuiwiz.dll
regsvr32 /s imadmui.dll
regsvr32 /s lrwizdll.dll
regsvr32 /s mprsnap.dll
regsvr32 /s msclus.dll
regsvr32 /s mstsmhst.dll
regsvr32 /s mstsmmc.dll
regsvr32 /s nntpadm.dll
regsvr32 /s nntpapi.dll
regsvr32 /s nntpsnap.dll
regsvr32 /s ntdsbsrv.dll
regsvr32 /s ntfrsapi.dll
regsvr32 /s rasuser.dll
regsvr32 /s rigpsnap.dll
regsvr32 /s rsadmin.dll
regsvr32 /s rscommon.dll
regsvr32 /s rsconn.dll
regsvr32 /s rsengps.dll
regsvr32 /s rsjob.dll
regsvr32 /s rsservps.dll
regsvr32 /s rsshell.dll
regsvr32 /s rssubps.dll
regsvr32 /s rtrfiltr.dll
regsvr32 /s schmmgmt.dll
regsvr32 /s tapisnap.dll
regsvr32 /s tsuserex.dll
regsvr32 /s uddi.mmc.dll
regsvr32 /s vsstskex.dll
regsvr32 /s w95inf16.dll
regsvr32 /s w95inf32.dll
regsvr32 /s winsevnt.dll
regsvr32 /s winsmon.dll
regsvr32 /s winsrpc.dll
regsvr32 /s ws03res.dll
-----end batch
and then registr these for the MMC Console
Cic.dll
Mmc30.dll
Mmc30r.dll
Mmcbase.dll
Mmcex.dll
Mmcexr.dll
Mmcfxc.dll
Mmcfxcr.dll
Mmcndmgr.dll
Mmcshext.dll
Let me know
ASKER
Thanks briancassin for the efforts...
1. Yes, when I delete dsa.msc and rename "dsa copy 2.msc" back to dsa.msc then it stops working. Another EE user with the same symptoms had his resolve with an Admin Pack reinstall but mine did not resolve.
2. System is fine in other regards
3. Eventvwr does not not show any relevant errors in Application or System
4. Versions of files such as dsadmin.dll seem okay with created/modified date in Mar 2005 which was when the server with WIn 20003 Server SP1 was installed. If the wrong version it would have been some 2007 date which is when SP2 was installed but I rolled it back.
5. I ran the batch files to reregister DLL's but no go. I rebooted yesterday but not after running this batch file as it is still office hours.
At the moment I am still using the workaround which is okay, but real strange that I still cannot run the snap-ins with the original names..
1. Yes, when I delete dsa.msc and rename "dsa copy 2.msc" back to dsa.msc then it stops working. Another EE user with the same symptoms had his resolve with an Admin Pack reinstall but mine did not resolve.
2. System is fine in other regards
3. Eventvwr does not not show any relevant errors in Application or System
4. Versions of files such as dsadmin.dll seem okay with created/modified date in Mar 2005 which was when the server with WIn 20003 Server SP1 was installed. If the wrong version it would have been some 2007 date which is when SP2 was installed but I rolled it back.
5. I ran the batch files to reregister DLL's but no go. I rebooted yesterday but not after running this batch file as it is still office hours.
At the moment I am still using the workaround which is okay, but real strange that I still cannot run the snap-ins with the original names..
The only other two thoughts I have is
1. Download the windows 2003 SP1 service pack extract it and try running the admintools pak installer from there...
I have seen some people mention they could not get it to install properly from the seperate download microsoft provides for the admin tools pak for SP1
2. Download admintools pak for 2003 r2
My final thought on this would be the registry I will research some more let me know if either of these work.
1. Download the windows 2003 SP1 service pack extract it and try running the admintools pak installer from there...
I have seen some people mention they could not get it to install properly from the seperate download microsoft provides for the admin tools pak for SP1
2. Download admintools pak for 2003 r2
My final thought on this would be the registry I will research some more let me know if either of these work.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Gosh, after all of that it was a very simple MMC update from ChiefIT that solved it.
BrianCassin, thanks for all the efforts. Appreciate your time - sorry those just didn't solve it.
BrianCassin, thanks for all the efforts. Appreciate your time - sorry those just didn't solve it.
You should also note this article - it seems XML Parser corruption could be part of the issue as well - http://graphicdna.blogspot.com/2008/01/mmc-cannot-open-file-xxxmsc.html
Running "regsvr32.exe c:\windows\system32\msxml3
Running "regsvr32.exe c:\windows\system32\msxml3
applying MMC 3.0 update solved this for one of my clients.
ChiefIT, the update solved this for me as well. Running Admin Tools from an XP Pro host for a 2k domain controller.
Thanks BrianCassin for the regsvr32 .dll list. It solved my issue. I had this problem for a year where accessing the ADUC, DNS, etc snapins in the Administrative Tools folder would give me an access denied error. I worked around it by creating an MMC Console with the snapins and it's been working, but it was really annoying not to have it working in the Administrative Tools folder. I'd give you points if I could.
I tried reinstalling the admin pak and mmc 3.0 update, but I get the following message. "Setup has detected that the service pack version of this system is newer than the update you are applying. There is no need to install this update."
I had this problem - nothing would fix it then I found a dsa file in
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Applic
Deleting this file fixed the problem :-)
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Applic
Deleting this file fixed the problem :-)
I tried EVERYTHING above and what fixed my problem was DIMI's post. THANKS A TON DIMI.
dimi:
04.08.2008 at 04:58PM PDT, ID: 21310718
You should also note this article - it seems XML Parser corruption could be part of the issue as well - http://graphicdna.blogspot.com/2008/01/mmc-cannot-open-file-xxxmsc.html
Running "regsvr32.exe c:\windows\system32\msxml3
dimi:
04.08.2008 at 04:58PM PDT, ID: 21310718
You should also note this article - it seems XML Parser corruption could be part of the issue as well - http://graphicdna.blogspot.com/2008/01/mmc-cannot-open-file-xxxmsc.html
Running "regsvr32.exe c:\windows\system32\msxml3
Kaogden nailed it! Thank you!!!! Problem Resolved
I had this problem - nothing would fix it then I found a dsa file in
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Applic
Deleting this file fixed the problem :-)
I had this problem - nothing would fix it then I found a dsa file in
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Applic
Deleting this file fixed the problem :-)
Kaogden definitely had the answer for me. Wow, I tried a lot of other options and his solution resolved the issue for me.
My issue is now fixed.
Thanks!
My issue is now fixed.
Thanks!
Had the same issue after uninstalling old software on my SBS2003 server.
This solution fixed my problem
Thanks!!!
This solution fixed my problem
Thanks!!!
Thank you Kaogden!!!
Have you tried going to start run mmc and then adding users and computers snap in manually then saving it as dsa.msc ?
it sounds like the file is either missing or corrupt it may also have the wrong permissions. Have you checked permissons on these to see if the proper permissions and owners of the objects are present ?
are you only having a problem with those two snap ins ? can you manually open both of them as I had mentioned above by going to start run mmc and then selecting the snap in ? If so then the snaps ins presently are either corrupt, missing or wrong permissions just recreate them.