"Active Directory Users and Computers" MMC snap-in for Windows 7?

Question

Is there an equivalent tool available for use in Windows 7? I just need to browse the membership of some small Active Directory groups that are deep within a huge hierarchy, so I can eventually write code to work with those groups. The Windows Server 2003 version of the installer works, but the resulting MMC snap in just won't start up.

EDIT: I'd like to preemptively strike against more requests to close the question. This is a tool that I assume many programmers use to assist in programming-related tasks such as testing code that modifies Active Directory content. There are tons of other questions about developer tools here on Stack Overflow.

Answer 1

There are new instructions as of the Windows 10 October 2018 update:

Just go to "Manage optional features" in Settings and click "Add a feature" to see the list of available RSAT tools. Select and install the specific RSAT tools you need. To see installation progress, click the Back button to view status on the "Manage optional features" page.

Source: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=45520

Answer 2

As "me1" has mentioned you can do this assuming that your version of Windows 7 is either Professional or Ultimate, the PC is on the domain and you have preinstall the Remote Server Administration Tools (Windows6.1-KB958830-x64-RefreshPkg.msu or newer) then you'll be able to do the following:

Step 1. Select "Start", select "Control Panel", select "Programs" and click on "Turn Windows features on or off".

Step 2. Check the following 5 features:

"remote server administration tools>feature administration tools>group policy management tools"

"remote server administration tools>feature administration tools>smtp server tools"

"remote server administration tools>role administration tools>ad ds and ad lds tools>active directory module for windows powershell"

"remote server administration tools>role administration tools>ad ds and ad lds tools>ad ds tools>active directory administrative center"

"remote server administration tools>role administration tools>ad ds and ad lds tools>ad ds tools>ad ds snap-ins and command-line tools"

Step 3. Click "OK".

Answer 3

I know that this question is old, but it is first in google searches

For the windows 8.1, the tools can be downloaded here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2693643

For the windows 10, the tools can be downloaded here
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=45520

EDIT: After installing the Windows 10 2015 "Fall Update", I had to reinstall the remote server administration tools.

Answer 4

I'm not allowed to use Turn Windows features on or off, but running all of these commands in an elevated command prompt (Run as Administrator) finally got Active Directory Users and Computers to show up under Administrative Tools on the start menu:

dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-DS
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-DS-SnapIns
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-DS-AdministrativeCenter
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-DS-NIS
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-LDS
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-Powershell

I had downloaded and installed the RSAT (Windows 7 Link, Windows Vista Link) before running these commands.

It's quite likely that this is more than you features than you actually need, but at least it's not too few.

Answer 5

As @CraigHyatt mentioned in one of the comments:

"Control Panel -> Programs and Features -> Turn Windows features on or off -> Remote Server Administration Tools -> AD DS and AD LDS Tools"

This worked like a charm in Windows Server 2008. A reboot was necessary, but the Active Directory Users and Computers snap in was available after that.

Answer 6

You have to enable the features in Add/Remove Programs section of your Control Panel. Select "Turn Windows features on or off"

Answer 7

RE: enabling features via the command line

Alternatively, you can enable whichever features you're interested in via the Programs and Features control panel

From the download page Per Noalt provided:

Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Programs.

1. In the Programs and Features area, click Turn Windows features on or off.

2. If you are prompted by User Account Control to enable the Windows Features dialog box to open, click Continue.

3. In the Windows Features dialog box, expand Remote Server Administration Tools.

4. Select the remote management tools that you want to install.

Answer 8

Hey guys it exist a much more sexy tool for a developper to have a look into a Directory, whatever the Directory is (Active-Directory, OpenLDAP, eDirectory ...) its name is Apache Directory studio, it works in the same way on the top of java in Windows or in Linux. It's a kind of universal LDP.EXE for those who know this tool on Windows Servers. It allows to create LDIF files and also to browse the SCHEMA.

Answer 9

The commands from WEFX worked for me after I enabled the parent features RemoteServerAdministrationTools, RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles, and RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD

Answer 10

Per Noalt's answer is correct. However, if you want the snap-in mentioned in the title (Users and Computers), you'll also have to run these commands at a command-line afterwards, as an Administrator:

dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-DS
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-DS-SnapIns

Note - I had to run these in order for AD Users and Computers to show up, as they were disabled on my computer after the install. This might not be the case for all users.

Answer 11

For Windows Vista and Windows 7 you need to get the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) - the Active Directory Users & Computers Snap-In is included in that pack. Download link: Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7.