"MMC cannot open the file C:\WINDOWS\system32\gpmc.msc."

[Bob]

Today out of no where I can not open the gpmc.msc. I've been using it a lot
lately, so maybe I wore it out!

My error is:

"MMC cannot open the file C:\WINDOWS\system32\gpmc.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 find that other Domain Admins or Administrators have no problem opening
this gpmc.msc. I can even open it under my profile if I "run as" another
administrator.

I've looked at the ACL security, I've restored it from backup, I've repaired
it, I've deinstalled and reinstalled, I've removed my profile from Domain
Admin + Administrators and added it again. I've rebooted during many of these.

I also see that other msc's and have no trouble. It seems to be this one and
only gpmc.msc!

I'm at the point of deleting my profile and re-creating it, but I'll feel
like such a loser for doing so. Therefore, I thought I would ask this forum
first to see if there is another alternative before I take such a drastic
step (which may not even work)!

Any ideas?
--
Bob

[Eric Voskuil (MVP)]

Try adding the snap-in to a new console window. Open MMC.EXE and then open
teh add/remove snap-ins dialog. Add the "Group Policy Management" snap-in.

Regards,

Eric

"Bob" <B...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0384CA8F-4AC1-4BCD...@microsoft.com...

[Bob]

Eric,

Yes, thanks, that works fine. I suppose I could save this as a new console
(and attempt to find the icon for it), but isn't there a way to fix the old
gpmc.msc file? I tried changing its properties to open with IE and than back
to MMC, but that didn't fix it either.
--
Bob

[A. Gulati [MSFT]]

For user-mode console files, MMC saves customizations to the user's profile.
Look for file gpmc [no .msc extension] under %APPDATA%\Microsoft\MMC.
It appears that this file may have been corrupted. Try renaming it to
something else.

Also, to help analyze the corruption (if that is indeed the issue), try
doing a diff between this file and C:\WINDOWS\system32\gpmc.msc.
--
Thanks
A Gulati [MSFT]
--
This posting is provided 'as is' with no warranties, and confers no rights.
You assume all risk for your use. © 2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved.

"Bob" <B...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:34260F76-7AB2-4EB0...@microsoft.com...

[Eric Voskuil (MVP)]

It's really not a big deal, the MSC file is just an XML document. The new
one can be configured however you want it and saved into the same location
as the old. You could also copy it from another machine.

Eric

"Bob" <B...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:34260F76-7AB2-4EB0...@microsoft.com...

[Bob]

Yes, that seems to be the bug. The "gpmc" file found in the
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\MMC must have been corrupted. When I renamed it, I can
now open the gpmc.msc snap-in. I didn't notice that the
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\MMC\gpmc file was recreated however. I suppose that won't
happen until I choose to save some customization. Thanks much, you've fixed
it!
--
Bob