Unable to access MMC Snaps on's in server 2003

Dark_Angel · 7 Aug 2007 at 15:43

Hey,

I am having some issues with a work's server that I have never dealt with before, and there doesn't seem to be to much information on it online.

Basically, whenever I am trying to load (for example) services.msc I recieve the following error message

"MMC cannot open the file c:\windows\system32\services.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"

I have doubled checked, the files (services) IS in place. If I load the MMC program itself, it loads but when I try to add snap ins, it once again comes up with various errors.

I am logged in as an admonistrator, so obviously have full account permissions, but its almost as if the permissions for these snap ins have been removed, or perhaps there is another issue that it could be?

The OS as mentioned in the title is Windows 2003 Server Small Business edition, with SP1 installed.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions then feel free to help ^.^

The_KiD · 7 Aug 2007 at 15:51

Check here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326574

Says for XP, but should be for 2003 server too.

Dark_Angel · 8 Aug 2007 at 11:02

Still no joy

I am installing SP2 at the moment on the server to see if that resolves the issues.

I had a few days before the problem started created another account other than admin that was a dummy account just for routing emails and stuff, but was never logged in to, I basically never signed in to it.

I made it an administrator though, I tried to sign in to it last night but it wouldn't let me sign in and just hung with a grey screen, and I had to CTRL+ALT+DEL and then "log off" and go back in as the built in administrator.

Maybe if SP2 is installed it will help resolve a problem or 2? Ironically, it was installing backup software that really created the problem in the first place, now when I try to load certain pieces of software. including the backup software that caused the issue it actually ASKS me to download the .dll files as if I am downloading them from the internet. This is a really weird problem :/

Rob7865 · 8 Aug 2007 at 11:07

BE VERY VERY VERY careful putting Win2k3 SP2 on a SBS box - LOTS and LOTS of problems, to be aware of.

Rob

Lex · 8 Aug 2007 at 11:11

Yes you're administrator but there could be an enterprise administrator who has given you only certain permissions one of which is NOT to have access to MMC.

Maybe.

Dark_Angel · 8 Aug 2007 at 11:22

Lex said:
Yes you're administrator but there could be an enterprise administrator who has given you only certain permissions one of which is NOT to have access to MMC.

Maybe.

Its not that, its only a small business, and myself and one other guy are the only admins, and we have been using this account forever to do all of these snaps ins and whatever else with no issues at all

Lex · 8 Aug 2007 at 12:02

so you used to be able to access the MMC?

Dark_Angel · 8 Aug 2007 at 12:24

Lex said:
so you used to be able to access the MMC?

Yes, completely and utterly do anything and everything. One other guy and I were FULL admins, I mean literally we could do everything from surf the internet to use regedit, to services.msc to creating and REMOVING user groups.

It seems any MMC related or user related tasks do NOT function now, I continue to get the error. What is really weird is regedit for example works. I can't even access windows users at the moment, even using exchange's Active Directory users and computers,. which once again until this all started ran perfectly!

I continue to get various errors,. even the server management tools that is usually accessible are no longer working!

Anyone have any ideas? Its driving me nuts

*EDIT* we share the same admin account by the way, we usually take it in turns to admin the server.

Rob7865 · 8 Aug 2007 at 12:47

Are you able to create a blank MMC (Start>Run>MMC)

Does this open OK?
Can you add snap-in's ok to this?

It does sound like a permissions issue if your getting the same error message with every MMC your using... Check the ACL on the MMC's too

Rob

Dark_Angel · 8 Aug 2007 at 13:32

Rob7865 said:
Are you able to create a blank MMC (Start>Run>MMC)

Does this open OK?
Can you add snap-in's ok to this?

It does sound like a permissions issue if your getting the same error message with every MMC your using... Check the ACL on the MMC's too

Rob

Well basically, MMC loads perfectly happily. It EVEN lets me add the snap in, but the second I even try to click on services (just for example) that I add, I recieve a small little pop up with the writting:

A runtime error has occured do you wish to Debug?

Line:108
Error: Object Expected

Does that help anyone with suggestions or whatever? Thanks for the help guys ^.^