Question

Is there a way to change and save the column width or view in services in Vista (services.msc)

Asked by: pacumming

Tried all I know and cannot get SAVE option to be enabled (grayed out) in Vista.
Read somewhere to right click on services.msc, select author, select options, change column width, select full rights, and then click on SAVE.
SAVE button is grayed out.

This did not work in Vista: http://www.petri.co.il/save_settings_to_administrative_tools.htm

Yes I am administrator of this machine. I could enable the hidden administrator but not sure that would help.

Ideas?

Thanks very much for some tried and true tricks that work or registry hacks for Vista.
Peter

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Asked On
2008-07-15 at 15:59:48ID23567962
Tags

Microsoft

,

Vista

Topic

Windows Vista

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Answers

 

by: sramesh2kPosted on 2008-07-15 at 21:03:31ID: 22013210

Hi Peter,

This is caused by lack of Permissions for your user account to delete/modify the .msc file in the C:\Windows\system32 folder. This is the default setting.

To modify an mmc snap-in, you need to take ownership of the file (say, services.msc) first, and then open it in Author mode to save the changes.

How to Take Ownership of a file or folder in Windows Vista? - The Winhelponline Blog:
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/how-to-take-ownership-of-a-file-or-folder-in-windows-vista/

 

by: nobusPosted on 2008-07-16 at 04:05:33ID: 22014712

did you run that fix as admin?  right click it, select run as...

 

by: pacummingPosted on 2008-07-16 at 04:49:18ID: 22014915

sramesh2k: Thanks, I downloaded the reg file 2x and selected run instead of merge. Then reran and selected merge. Rebooted. I do not have an entry in the SHIFT RIGHT CLICK conteet menu of a file that indicates TAKE OWNERSHIP. tried twice and rebooted 2-3x.

I then tried the other instructions for takeownership via command prompt.
It did not like the command for ICACLS

per the below iwth no luck (not running SP1):

C:\Users\Home>cd\windows\system32

C:\Windows\System32>takeown/F services.msc

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows\System32\services.msc" now owned by
ser "DELLLAP\Home".

C:\Windows\System32>icacls /gran administrators:F /T
Invalid parameter "administrators:F"

C:\Windows\System32>icacls grant "DeLLLAP\Home":F /T
Invalid parameter "DeLLLAP\Home:F"

C:\Windows\System32>icacls /grant administrators:F /T
Invalid parameter "administrators:F"

C:\Windows\System32>icacls /grant Administrators:F
Invalid parameter "Administrators:F"

C:\Windows\System32>Icacls /grant administrator:F /T
Invalid parameter "administrator:F"

C:\Windows\System32>
Thanks, Peter

 

by: sramesh2kPosted on 2008-07-16 at 05:40:22ID: 22015248

Open an elevated Command Prompt and run these commands:

takeown /f "C:\Windows\system32\services.msc"

Then run:

C:\Windows\system32>icacls "C:\Windows\system32\services.msc" /grant administrators:F /T

Now, copy services.msc to Desktop, and run it in Author mode. Save the changes.

Replace the existing services.msc (in Windows\system32) with the one on the Desktop.

 

by: sramesh2kPosted on 2008-07-16 at 06:06:38ID: 22015463

That does not seem to work. When copied the updated services.msc to C:\Windows\System32, it does not seem to use the custom settings.

 

by: pacummingPosted on 2008-07-16 at 06:13:01ID: 22015513

Correct....

And too bad the registry addition to context menu never showed up.
Appreciate the help of further suggestions. However,not a critical issue. Be ie to get the registry fix to work.
Oh well.

Peter

 

by: pacummingPosted on 2008-07-16 at 07:50:50ID: 22016494

Any other way to do this?
Perhaps I have the commands wrong per the below:
C:\Windows\System32>icacls grant "DeLLLAP\Home":F /T
Invalid parameter "DeLLLAP\Home:F"

C:\Windows\System32>icacls /grant administrators:F /T
Invalid parameter "administrators:F"
----

**can you try it out on Vista and services.msc?

Any other take ownership options or programs to use that are tested and work?

Thanks
Peter

 

by: pacummingPosted on 2008-07-16 at 08:09:39ID: 22016700

Solver I think.

I copied Services.msc to the desktop, right clicked and selected Author, changed column sizes, and then set permissions to Author mode. I then saved it there-on desktop.
Renamed services.msc in windows/system32 folder to services.sav
I then searched for all occurrences of services.msc and deleted them via UNLOCKER.
I then pasted services.msc into the folders I deleted it out of. Had to put it in more than just windows/system32. One folder did not let me put it back in but that is okay.

Now it appears to hold my settings.

Peter

 

by: sramesh2kPosted on 2008-07-16 at 09:29:03ID: 22017536

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the latest update.

P.S: The commands errored out because you mentioned the computer name instead of the file name (c:\windows\system32\services.msc)

The "Take Ownership" command does not seem to work for files in the System32 folder. Just learnt this!

 

by: sramesh2kPosted on 2008-07-16 at 09:29:44ID: 22017543

>> The "Take Ownership" command does not seem to work for files in the System32 folder.

Infact, the command does not even appear for files in the Windows/System32 folder.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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