Cannot edit items in group policy editor

mbr12 · 21 Sep 2020

Dell laptop, W10 Pro 64 bit, v. 2004.
I just upgraded a Dell from W7 pro to W10 pro. I want to disable a few items in the group policy editor, but having a problem.
I can open gpedit and get to the items, but when I double click only the description shows, not the options pane for editing. I spent the whole day researching this, but Google doesn't show any hits for this particular problem.
I have another W10 laptop and a W7 machine, and don't have this happen with either one.
Any clue, or is it reset time?

FreeBooter · 21 Sep 2020

See if you can open them at Microsoft Management Console.

Type mmc.exe to Start Menu and from Microsoft Management Console click File --> Add/Remove Snap-in option.

mbr12 · 22 Sep 2020

I've tried that, but the snap-in for group policy won't stay added. I tried under the computers tab. When I click the users tab, all the user entries (administrator, etc.) says no , and I can't change them.

Steve C · 22 Sep 2020

Perhaps time for a repair install or recover from the last working backup. Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

dalchina · 22 Sep 2020

Hi, this might give a hint:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/555218

Noted this refers to older Windows versions.. but it might point you towards a solution. There may be a more recent version of this.

However, with due caution (check file exists first) I see no harm in trying the resolution:

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, re-register the appropriate MMC snap-in DLL that

implements the missing functionality by issuing the following command at a Windows command prompt

regsvr32 <snap-in DLL name>

By default, all of the Group Policy related MMC snap-in DLLs can be found in %systemroot%\system32

The following lists the default Group Policy snap-in DLLs that you can re-register:

Administrative Templates and Scripts: gptext.dll
Folder Redirection: fde.dll
Internet Explorer Maintenance: ieaksie.dll
IP Security: ipsecsnp.dll
Public Key and Software Restriction: certmgr.dll
Remote Installation Services: rigpsnap.dll
Security: wsecedit.dll
Software Installation: appmgr.dll

mbr12 · 22 Sep 2020

There aren't any snap-in dlls listed in the command prompt nor in the system 32.
Also, when I click on "policy setting" at the top of the description, there is a script error.
Is there a way to re-install the gp editor without doing a complete reset?

dalchina · 22 Sep 2020

Thank you very much for your reply.

I don't know of any way to install the GP editor as such- it's part of Windows. It's not listed in Windows Features (Control Panel) for example.

Has it ever worked since you upgraded? If not, an in-place upgrade repair is unlikely to help, as it's essentially the same thing you've just done in upgrading. (Note- an upgrade repair is not a 'reset').

Was it working in Win 7?

You could use this:
Download Policy Plus - MajorGeeks
- looks like the GP editor, and adds a useful 'find' feature.

There are ways posted which are suppposed to add the GP editor to Home. I don't know if those might help you get it working. E.g.
4 Ways to Fix Group Policy Editor (gpedit) Missing on Windows 10
https://www.itechtics.com/enable-gpedit-windows-10-home/

I would advise making an appropriate backup before attempting this. Hopefully you are routinely using disk imaging (e.g. Macrium Reflect - free/paid).

mbr12 · 22 Sep 2020

I haven't tried it in W7 on this machine. I enabled gp editing in the optional features, then again added group policy in the mmc console, but still no luck. I'm going to try a reset and see if that helps.

dalchina · 22 Sep 2020

You will lose all installed programs.
Reset Windows 10

mbr12 · 22 Sep 2020

I did a hard reset and wiped the hd, and that fixed it. There wasn't much on it that needed reloading, it's just a backup machine.
Thanks for the replies.