MSC files not opening [Quick Guide]

Are you getting an error message along similar lines for a Windows utility? If so, these are a few potential fixes for MSC files that are not opening.

How do I fix the MSC file not opening?

1. Scan the Registry

1. Download CCleaner from their page.
2. Open the software to install it.
3. Run the app, then click Registry.
   
4. Select all the registry item checkboxes and press Scan for Issues.
5. Then, click on Fix selection issues to delete or repair invalid registry keys.

MSC system errors can be due to corrupted or invalid registry entries. As such, a registry scan might help fix MSC files that aren’t opening.

Windows doesn’t have a built-in registry cleaner, but there are plenty of third-party utility packages that include a registry scanner.

You can scan your registry files and restore them with CCleaner. The software will also keep you safe from other types of harmful or corrupted files.

2. Run the system file checker

1. Press the Windows key + X.
2. Select Command Prompt (Admin).
3. Alternatively, enter cmd in a Windows search box.
4. Hold the Ctrl + Shift keys and then select Command Prompt to open it as an administrator.
5. In the Prompt window, input the following and press Enter: sfc/scannow
   
6. The SFC will scan for about 20-25 minutes.
7. If SFC fixes anything, it will state, Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
8. Restart Windows if the SFC does repair something.

The MMC cannot open the file error might be due to corrupted system files. System File Checker is a tool that scans for and fixes corrupted Windows system files, so it might fix the MSC file that isn’t opening.

3. Register DLL Files with Regsvr32

1. First, press the Windows key + R to open Run.
2. Then type regsvr32 in Run.
   
3. Press the OK button.
4. Open this folder path in the File Explorer:  C:/DocumentsAnd Settings/username/Application/Data/Microsoft/MMC.
   • You’ll need to replace the username in that path with the actual username folder title.
   • That folder contains MSC files.
5. Look for the MSC tool that isn’t opening for you.
6. Next, right-click the MSC tool that isn’t opening.
7. Select the Rename option from the context menu.
8. Enter filename_old as the new title for the MSC file.
9. Then restart the Windows OS.

The Microsoft Management Console might have missing or corrupted DLL files that the MSC utility needs. In which case, Regsvr32 will come in handy for fixing the MSC error.

Run a System Scan to discover potential errors

Click Start Scan to find Windows issues.

Click Repair All to fix issues with Patented Technologies.

Run a PC Scan with Restoro Repair Tool to find errors causing security problems and slowdowns. After the scan is complete, the repair process will replace damaged files with fresh Windows files and components.

That’s a command-line utility that you can register DLLs with. This is one potential Regsvr32 fix for the “MMC cannot open the file” MSC error.

4. Register Msxml.dlls via the Command Prompt

1. Open the Command Prompt from the Windows + X menu or by entering cmd in the Windows search box.
2. Next, enter the following command: C:Windowssystem32>cd %windir%system32
3. Press the Return key.
   
4. Now input the following commands in the Command Prompt, and press the Return key after entering each one: Regsvr32 Msxml.dll Regsvr32 Msxml2.dll Regsvr32 Msxml3.dll
5. Enter Exit and press Return to close the Command Prompt.
6. Then you can restart Windows.

Alternatively, you can also register MMC DLLs with Regsvr32 via the Command Prompt. To do it, follow the aforementioned steps.

5. Fix MMC DLLs With File Association Fixer v2

1. Download the app from their website.
2. Open the software’s Zip folder in File Explorer.
3. Press the Extract all button to extract it.
   • You can open either a FAF x86 or x64 version of the program.
   • The x86 is for 32-bit Windows platforms, and x64 is the 64-bit version.
4. The software suggests that you set up a restore point.
5. Click Fix Files to open the file type list in the snapshot directly below.
   
6. Select the DLL check box, and press the Fix Selected button.
7. Reboot your desktop or laptop.

File Association Fixer is software that enables you to fix broken file associations when the registry is corrupted, although the program seemingly doesn’t provide support for MSC file types.

You can feasibly fix Microsoft Management Console DLLs with File Association Fixer. So this might be a utility worth noting if an MSC file isn’t opening for you.