PRB: MMC: Management Console May Fail to Start (231757)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Management Console 1.1
  • Microsoft Management Console 1.2
This article was previously published under Q231757

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to open the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) program, you may receive one of the following two error messages:
Failed to create empty document.
-or-
Unable to open the selected file.
The Management Console window may not display or may appear for a very brief time.

CAUSE

The Management Console could not create a temporary file in the TEMP directory. This may be due to one of the following:
  • The TEMP or TMP environment variable may point to a folder that does not exist.
  • The drive containing the TEMP directory may be full.

RESOLUTION

If the drive is full, clear some space.

If the TEMP environment variable does not exist, or points to a folder that does not exist, use the following steps to set the variable to a valid folder:
  1. Click Start. Point to Settings, then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the System icon in Control Panel.
  3. Click the Environment tab in the System Properties dialog box.
  4. In the Variable edit field, type TEMP.
  5. In the Value edit field, type the folder name that will receive temporary files. For example, C:\TEMP (if the TEMP folder exists on drive C).
  6. Click OK.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/21/2004
Keywords:kbDSWManage2003Swept kbprb KB231757
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.