Since my migration to Windows 7 there have still been a few things missing that would be nice to have. One of those is the Exchange System Manager tools. There are ways and methods out there to getting this to work but most will involve uninstalling outlook and reinstalling after you have installed ESM tools.
I have been waiting for the ESM tools for Exchange 2010 to hopefully work with Exchange 2003 but that hasn’t happened either. Although I did find a really quick and easy solution this morning after reading the following posts on TechNet (Exchange System Manager for exchange 2003)
You will need to download the Exchange System Manager for Windows Vista then use something like WinRAR to extract the contents.
You will also need to make sure you already have the RSAT tools installed (Remote Server Admin Tools)
Finally open up a Command Prompt as Administrator. Browse to the directory that contains the ESMVISTA.MSI file. Run the following:
ESMVISTA.MSI /q
Once this is done you should be able to open the “Active Directory and Computers” and edit an Exchange User with all the required email tabs.
84 replies on “Exchange System Manager Tools on Windows 7 – The Easy Way”
This worked a treat – thanks.
Thanks a lot, was searching for this fix for some weeks..
This worked perfectly and with far less complication than other suggestions. Thank you very much!
thanks! this worked for me too. I had downloaded esmvista.msi for my win7 box and tried to run it and got the message saying the system must be vista. running it with this /q fixed that.
Doesn’t work for me. I’m using Windows 7 x64 with RSAT tools x64. ESM tools installed fine but I can’t see any exchange tabs in AD.
Some idea?
@Tobi
Hrm, never tried it on 64bit. Has anyone else had any luck with 64bit?
Windows 7 x64 with RSAT tools x64, have the same problem as Tobi.
Everything works fine except the exchange tabs..
I have tried installing this on a 64-bit Win7 with no luck. It appears to work, but then there are no extra tabs in ADUC. Still working it out.
@Jeremy
ESM is installed on Win7 64-bit. However, it is not in ADUC as of yet.
I have tried installing this on a 64-bit Win7 with no luck. It appears to work, but then there are no extra tabs in ADUC. Still working it out.
Thanks! That worked perfect for me!
I have everything working accept ADUC Exchange 2003 user administration. We are currently in the middle of Exchange 2007/2010 migration but I still have to create mail boxes on Exchange 2003 servers. As of now I have to go to an old pc to create them I’d like to be able to have EMC 2007, ESM 2003 and have ADUC have all of the Exch 2003 mail tabs on my Win7 64Bit pc.
I’m almost there but just missing the Mail tabs in ADUC
Any news on ADUC mail tabs?
Thanks, although I had to run ESMVISTA.MSI /qb to get this to work
This is so life saving. Thank you! Thank You! I’ve seen many complicated solutions but this one is like taking candy from a baby 🙂
Thanks Guys
Someone any luck with getting the Exchange Tabs on a x64 box ?
Works a treat for me as well.
Windows 7 Pro.
@Jon Smith
No luck either with Windows 7 64 bits. DId you receive any replies from people that made it wotk with 64 bits win 7
Thanks for your help
@Claude Cardinal
Unfortunately not. I am no longer in an exchange environment so I have no way of testing this any further.
The only hope is that someone else finds a solution and lets us know.
Cheers, Jon
I know this isn’t a solution, but until I find a solution to use Exchange on Win7 x64, I’ve been using XP Mode for ADUC + Exchange tasks.
Very nice! That has worked for me and I also have the exchange tabs.
running win7 32bit w/
remote server admin tools
ESMVista
thanks!
Your a champ mate.
Cheers
Mick (Sydney)
I just tried this ‘again’ as I tried this when W7 first hit the shelves for SA’s. I am using W7 Ent 64-bit with RSAT, etc.. already installed (as well as Outlook!) and manage a 2003 Exchange. It worked to a point… as far as using the Exchange System Management tools, which was previously unavailable after this process.
Also, on a side note, tried the XP mode in the past and got that going fine BUT it is sooo sloooww and inconvenient to startup quickly, etc…
Will look further into having the tabs in ADUC registering correctly 😉
Hey guys, I think I might have found the solution to your problem. When executing the above command I saw an error in the event log immediately afterwards as copied below.
Product: Exchange System Manager — Error 1925. You do not have sufficient privileges to complete this installation for all users of the machine. Log on as administrator and then retry this installation.
To remedy this, (even while logged on as a sys admin) I went ahead and launched command from the windowssystem32 folder as an admin. The brought up a UAC prompt which I clicked away, and shortly aftrwards, was successfully using ESM on my Windows 7 64Bit machine.
I tried GeoffCS approach on x64 Win 7 and still not working for my tabs and ESM.
@GeoffCS
Do you have exchange tasks tab in ADUC???
Great… worked… I’ve been looking for this solution forever. However, I did have to use the /qb option in order for it to work; /q by itself didn’t do the trick.
win 7 64 or win2008r2 64 :-
run ESMVISTA.MSI /qb
then run mmc /32 add the activeusers snapin and you can see all the tabs.
@Dwayne Griffiths
Thanks!! That works on 2003 64-bit too.
but the active users is a x64 snapin and will not work
Hmm when I add the active users snapin mmc crashes. Anyone experienced this issue?
Wow! Microsoft suggested to do some meddling with the MSI file and I started installing the SDK kinda stuff that helps editing the MSI files. But along the way, I googled and believed that there must be some easy way. There I saw this article and cancelled the installation of the SDK installer. (Looks amusing when the MSI installer goes backwards :-))
/q worked quietly as it suggests 🙂
Thanks.
Thank You Very Much!!!
@vicjalan
Still crashes on win 7 64 after installing using /qb switch and running mmc /32
This is not supported by Microsoft. OK, If they are not willing to fix it, than I should look at another email system which is more compatible. This is pure BS on Microsoft’s part. I am sure it is not that complicated. Many of us are not ready to just to a newer version of Exchange. FIX THE PROBLEM, not ditch the 64 bit OS or use some half-baked XP mode crap.
thank you tons!!! you saved me a headache
This has helped me out Big Time – thanks Bro!
thanks worked like a charm..
What command did you run in windowssystem32?
After installing Windows7 SP1 RC I got the mmc to run in 32 bit with the 2003 exchange tools in a Windows 7 64 bit environment.
Now my question is i cant run it as a different user. For instance. I log in with an account with basic rights but i run the mmc as my admin account. Anyone doing the same thing i am doing?
You rock, this works great, tho i had to use /qb to get it to work too.
Working for 64bit:
confirmed I had the RSAT tools
Ran esmvista /qb
created/saved a 32bit MMC snapin called aduc.msc (opened “mmc 32″ added AD) to a directory called adtools. I used the following bat script to run it and it worked
C:WINDOWSsystem32runas.exe /netonly /user:domainuser “mmc /32 C:adtoolsaduc.msc”
Thanks a ton!! ESM is working fine on my Windows 7 32 bit workstion.
I’m running this command with /qb and I get a network access error:
A network error occurred while attempting to read from file ESMVISTA.MSI
Any ideas?
Solution for Windows 7 64bit users.
To launch ADUC with all the tabs Start > Run the following:
dsa.msc /32
The ESMVista.MSI is 32 bit so it will install the 32bit version. There doesn’t seem to be a 64bit version (I guess it’s old tech for MS).
1. Make MS Outlook Default email Program
Start > Run > type in “Default programs” > Click Set your default programs > Select Microsoft Outlook and click on “Set this program as default”
2. Install ESMVista (Exchange System Manager)
Download the ESMVISTA file suggested above in the Post.
NOTE:Need to install this silently, otherwise an error will come up with Compatibility issues.
Go to start run and put in MSIEXEC /I “ESMVISTA.MSI” /Q
So if you saved your file to C drive you would put in “MSIEXEC /I “C:ESMVISTA.MSI” /Q”
Go to Task Manager and note Msiexec installation, wait for it to finish before continuing on.
3. Create desktop shortcut to Active Directory snap-in.
Create a new batch file and call it “Active Directory.cmd” and inside the batch file chuck in “C:WindowsSystem32dsa.msc /32”.
4. Run the Batch File and Enjoy! =)
Following on from Dwayne Griffiths; for 64-bit Windows 7, right click the ADUC shortcut you use and add /32 to the target path on the shortcut tab after installation. Works a treat!
*****WORKED FOR ME!
WINDOWS 7 PRO – 64BIT
These are the steps I took (note that you dont have to type the “quotes”, just using them as to what you need to type:
Download ESMVISTA
Used winrar to extract the MSI to the C: drive
Make sure your admin account has admin rights and open a command prompt [WIN]+[R] and type “cmd” [ENTER]
Type cd (this should take you to the root of c:)
Type “C:ESMVISTA.MSI /Q [ENTER]”
Wait a minute or 2, you will know when it’s done once your back at C:
Now create a shortcut on your desktop using the “Location of the item” as “dsa.msc /32” click [Next}
Now give it whatever name you want, ie: ADUC, Active Directory Users & Computers.
Now run the shortcut from your desktop…
Now you have the exchange tabs in the user account.
Happy Administration!
Anyone doing my method? Login with your Regular Domain User account then try to launch it with your Admin account with Domain Admin access? i cant get the the tabs to show up.
Thanks to NomadTales – excellent steer..
Running dsa.msc /32 works a treat.
I have tried every suggestion in this thread and I am still getting the error “MMC could not create the snap-in.” I have a W7 SP1 32-bit laptop. I’m not sure what else to try.
I’ve got it fixed with a mix of all the solutions on W7 64B with RSAT tools
Download the file
Extract to C:
It creates C:\ESMVISTA
run a command prompt as a admin, goto de C:\ESMVISTA folder
type ESMVISTA.MSI /qb
create a batchfile with C:\Windows\System32\dsa.msc /32
enjoy 😀
Joe your simple little comment sums it all up for Win7 x64 users.
Here is what I put into a bat file with both RSAT and Exchange System Tool executable files in the same directory as the script.
Simple, quick, and clean AD Users and Computers w/ Exchange System Tools working in win7 x64:
REM *****Install Exchange System Tools*****
esmvista.msi /qb
REM *****Install Windows Remote Server Adminstrator Tools for Win7*****
Win7RSAT.msu /quiet
REM *****Install AD DS SnapIns under Administrative Tools*****
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-DS /featurename:RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Roles-AD-DS-SnapIns
REM *****Create 32bit Shortcut on your desktop for AD DS SnapIn so Exchange System Tools work properly*****
xcopy “Launch RSAT.bat” %userprofile%\Desktop\
Launch RSAT.bat script: (oop)
%windir%\System32\dsa.msc /32
The trick here is to run mmc in 32bit mode, ie Run-> mmc /32
Confirmed working with RSAT/RSAT with SP1 (x64), ESMVISTA x86 with ESMVISTA.msi /qb
I did a fresh install of Win7 and it would be nice if we had start to finish instructions on getting the Exchange tabs working..
Forgot to metion it is the 64bit edition..
Thanks!
Hi Guys,
I was having the same issues with Windows 7 64-Bit.
Install Service Pack 1 for Windows 7, fixes the problem.
That is the bomb! Works like a charm! I have looked off and on for a solution for 64bit win7, and have never been able to find one – running mmc /32 fixed it for me!
Hello,
I use this solution, and the tabs are in the ADUC
But I got a problem : when I want to change an mail adress in the tab Exchange, the ADUC says he can’t find the exchange server.
Windows 7 Enterprise 64 bits with SP1.
Running mmc /32 now removes Remote Desktop Services Profile tab and others, but does include the Exchange tabs! Anyone got any ideas?
win7 64B it worked using as: dsa.msc /32
Thanks
~R@jeev
Thanks Dude, That works Great
I had problems with this all the way up until the end but it’s now working.
I ran through the whole process as laid out in the article and then followed the tips in these comments – in the end I absolutely needed the Windows7 SP1 install before this worked (I got an error if I tried to rename the ADU&C and add /32 and when creating the batch file).
I now use the .bat file to run this (it works by just renaming the ADU&C shortcut with /32 but I am also using RUNAS as I log in with a standard account and then run the tools as an admin user).
I have the Exchange tabs and tasks in my AD snap-in no problems.
Thanks to all for you help/ tips.
I’m using exchange 2003 tool on Win 7 32 bit , i can perform all the exhcange tasks and create new users with mailboxes ok, but i cannot see any distribution lists in my AD, altough i can find them but cannot view them or browse through the OU like i used to in xp. any thoughts ?
Thank you Joe it works with windows7 and 64 bit 🙂
This works like a charm running win 7.0 SP1 64
ESMVISTA.MSI /q did not work for me for 32 bit even. It worked with /qb.
Details shows here as well: http://ptihosting.com/blog/it-blog/how-to-install-exchange-system-manager-on-windows-7/
Thanks,
I gave up on getting Exchange tools on my win 7 x64 workstation a couple years ago and was happy to find this thread.
Happily running it now. Thanks for getting a solution posted for us!
the /qb option worked for me. /q did not. Awesome. Thanks.
This method is using Windows 7 64-bit.
I was able to get this working once before using a similar method, but this time, this is what I did. Used the method for installing the file using the /qb switches, clicked through one prompt and it installed successfully (just as stated above).
Then, I ran mmc /32, added all of the snap-ins I wanted: Active Directory Users and Computers, Global Policy, Computer Management, Print Management, Exchange and Message Tracking Center. All worked fine and of course I was able to see, test and use successfully the Exchange Tabs within ADUC.
I hope this helps.
Mike’s suggestion worked!
Although Exchange tab shows up but Remote Desktop Services Profile, Personal Virtual Desktop tabs are missing.
ok try this after you install the esm program with the qb switch
1. Find a user> click on exchange tab in middle>(users contacts groups>exchange>advanced)
2. click on Show on exchange recipients and then click all radio boxes>Click find now
3. ok now go back to the exchange tab and unclick show only exchange recipients…now viola..your set…look at any user and you will see the magical exchange tabs that everyone keeps talking about,..
enjoy
I followed the directions and it works great. The only hitch is I saved the snap-in to facilitate ease of use. I restarted my laptop this morning and I’ve lost the exchange tabs. If I recreate the snapin (mmc /32) they appear.
Does anyone have any suggestions to create a shortcut that incorporates the exchange tabs permanently?
One thing I missed, and others might not realize is that after navigating to \system32\cmd.exe, run as admin and running ESMVISTA.msi /qb, that in order for your Exchange tabs to show up in ADUC, you have to run it as /32. To check to make sure it is working: run dsa.msc /32.
once you know it works, go to your ADUC shortcut, right click and change the Target to %SystemRoot%\system32\dsa.msc /32. (add the /32 switch!) Works every time now.
For those of you that use ADUC shortcuts all i did after performing the esmvista.msi /q and waiting for the install to finish was to right click my ADUC shortcut that i already had and add a /32 on the end of the target. This added the tabs for my already existing link directly to ADUC instead of going through the trouble of launching the mmc /32 then adding the snap-in or creating a batch file that will perform the same function.
Great help…. I have been looking for this for a while.
Does anyone know how to get this to work for Windows 8.1?
Karl is right.
Run esmvista.msi /q from elevated command line.
Go to your administrative tools, right-click -> properties on the ADUC shortcut, and add /32 to the end of the target. (to be clear, there is a space before the / so it should actually work out to %SystemRoot%\system32\dsa.msc /32)
Easy enough, just needed to google this site _again_ to remember the steps.
Great article.
Have anyone tried on Windows 10 Enterprise x64bits? please HELP!