MMC Consoles don't work anymore!

[jack0w]

Tearing my hair out with this issue!

 

In school we have a custom mmc console on the desktop for teachers to reset student passwords. When members of staff try to open the console they receive the error message "This function is not supported on this system."

 

I've googled this error and searched several forums but to no avail - can't even find anyone with the same problem!

 

I've discovered that the console will work when logged in as a Domain Administrator. Which made me think perhaps it was a permissions issue. I made my test staff account a member of the local administrators group to test this theory, however it still didn't work.

 

I've checked permissions on the MMC Console itself and dsa.msc (the only snap-in used in the console). Staff have read permissions to both.

 

The console used to work without any problems, this problem has only occured in the last few days.

 

If anyone has any thoughts, suggestions, or experience of this it would be much appreciated.

 

Many thanks.

 

Jack

[Michael]

XP SP3 and Server 2003 SP2 (not sure about Vista), include MMC 3.0. I'm not sure whether this is relevant or not?

[jack0w]

I've just had a look - XP clients are running SP3 and 2003 servers are running SP2.

 

I've tried creating a new console on a machine with MMC 3.0, same story - works fine as an Administrator, but not as a member of Staff

 

Totally baffled by this one!

[Michael]

Are you trying to create a custom snap-in? And if so, to perform what task(s)?

[jack0w]

Yes I am, I'm trying to create it with the sole task of 'Reset Password'.

 

I've also just tried creating an empty mmc console, I can't even open this as a member of Staff (with Local Admin rights!).

[Michael]

From memory you need to delegate control to a user so they have the rights to change user passwords.

[jack0w]

Cheers for the reply! I've just double checked, I have delegated control to the appropriate groups of staff to reset user passwords.

 

Can't understand it, works for 2 years with no problems and then all of a sudden it stops working!

[jack0w]

Does anyone have any further ideas on this? Any pointers appreciated.

[boomam]

Was this ever solved?

Ive got this exact same problem here.

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/networks/24748-mmc-errors.html#post237014

[contink]

Just a quick addition to this although it's not directly related..

 

I hit a problem with GPO editor with the error:

MMC could not create the snap-in. The snap-in might not have been installed correctly.

Name: Group Policy Object Editor

 

This KB article gave me a clue:

"Snap-in failed to initialize" error message when you open Microsoft Management Console

 

... but the actual problem was caused by a rogue comma which had appeared at the end of the PATH variable. Delete that in the PATH var' and apply it... All fixed

 

Just figured I'd share.