Why is access denied to my Active Directory (AD) users and computers?

Why is access denied to my Active Directory (AD) users and computers?

In my current situation I am facing a problem in my domain. When I click Active Directory (AD) users the computer shows this error: c:\WINDOWS\system 32\dsa.msc Access is denied

    Requires Free Membership to View

    Login

    By submitting your registration information to SearchNetworking.com you agree to receive email communications from TechTarget and TechTarget partners. We encourage you to read our Privacy Policy which contains important disclosures about how we collect and use your registration and other information. If you reside outside of the United States, by submitting this registration information you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States. Your use of SearchNetworking.com is governed by our Terms of Use. You may contact us at webmaster@TechTarget.com.

This problem tends to present itself in many ways. Typically it's a corruption of the Windows Administrators Pack. The steps below should help you resolve this issue:
  1. Try reinstalling the adminpak.msi
  2. Ensure that the .msc file extension is associated with the MMC.exe (Microsoft Management Console) by right clicking on the file and selecting General > Properties > Opens with MMC.exe.

This was first published in October 2009