subject: Resolving mmc Cannot Open The File Error [print this page] Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in is an inbuilt utility to manage computers through Active Directory.
Lets see as to what all can be managed by this utility.
Well, a number of tasks can be accomplished using this Users and Computers MMC console. Some of the various tasks that can be accomplished using this snap in are mentioned as below:
Using this MMC snap-in, you can create a computer account; add a computer account to a group. Apart from this, you can search for a computer account or even delete a computer account. Not limiting to these, you can even reset a computer account or modify a computer account, move a computer account to a different group or domain, manage remote computer, turn on or off a computer account. Apart from this, you can use this utility to even enable a computer to use different DNS name.
Now lets try to see as to how you can start the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in. The steps to start the MMC snap-in are as follows:
1.Click Start -> Programs -> Administrative Tools -> Active Directory Users and Computers.
2.In the tree view, under the domain node, select computers.
Though using the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in, you can perform a variety of tasks, using this MMC snap-in is not a childs try. In other words, it is bit difficult and quite cumbersome to use this Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in.
Lets consider a real life practical working scenario wherein MS Windows Server 2003/ 2008 R2 administrative Tools pack is installed on the computer system and you try to open the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in from AD domains, you fail to do so and get the following error message instead:
MMC cannot open the file DriveLetter:WINDOWSsystem32dsa.msc.
Now that we have come to know the error message, lets try and understand the actual cause behind the occurrence of the above mentioned error message.
The reason behind the occurrence of the above mentioned error message are as follows:
One of the most common reasons behind the aforementioned error message is that the file does not exist.
Another reason behind the occurrence of the above mentioned error message is that the file is not an MMC console.
Yet another reason might be that the file was being created using an MMC later version.
Yet another reason might be that you do not have sufficient rights to the file.
Now that we have come to know the error as well as the reasons behind the error message, lets focus on as to how to resolve the error message.
Well, you as an administrator can resolve this error message by manually copying the dsa.msc file from the Syswow64 folder to the System32 folder.
Here we would like to mention that although you can use the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in to perform a variety of tasks, however, we would suggest you to use a professional and efficient AD Management tool such as Lepide Active Directory Management and Reporting tool to manage computers using the Active Directory.
Lepide Active Directory Management and Reporting is a professional manage active directory tool that is completely capable of efficiently managing the active directory.
