Microsoft KB Archive/915843

= Error message when you try to open the WMI MMC snap-in by using the &quot;Wmimgmt.msc&quot; command on a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer: &quot;MMC has detected an error in a snap-in&quot; =

Article ID: 915843

Article Last Modified on 8/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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SYMPTOMS
On a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, you receive the following error message when you try to open the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in:

MMC has detected an error in a snap-in. It is recommended that you shut down and restart MMC

Then, you can select from among the following three options:
 * Report this error to Microsoft, and then shut down MMC
 * Continue running and ignore errors with this snap-in for the rest of the session
 * Continue running and always ignore errors with this snap-in, regardless of user or session

If you select the second option or the third option, the WMI MMC snap-in opens.

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:
 * You try to open the WMI MMC snap-in by using the Wmimgmt.msc command
 * MMC 3.0 is installed on the computer



CAUSE
MMC 3.0 introduces new memory-checking logic that checks NULL pointer references. However, the WMI MMC snap-in tries to reference a NULL pointer.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed on the computer. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Restart requirement
You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, follow these steps to open the WMI MMC snap-in:
 * 1) Click Start, click Run, type mmc, and then click OK.
 * 2) On the File menu, click Add/Remove Snap-in.
 * 3) In the Add/Remove Snap-in dialog box, click Add.
 * 4) In the Available standalone snap-ins list, select WMI Control, and then click OK.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about how to obtain Microsoft Management Console 3.0, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

907265 MMC 3.0 update is available for Windows Server 2003 and for Windows XP

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional query words: WMI snapin av

Keywords: kbwinxppresp3fix kberrmsg kbexpertiseinter kbbug kbfix kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbpubtypekc KB915843

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