DISCLAIMER: This utility has been shared for the sake of knowledge sharing. Patching system files using 3rd party software might be dangerous for your system. We do not recommend it and we'll not be responsible if it harms your system.
UPDATE: According to some readers, this tool also works fine in Windows 8.
Many times we post tutorials which require Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc). But some Windows 7 editions (Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter) don't come with Group Policy Editor. Only Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions come with Group Policy Editor installed.
Today we are going to share a simple installer which installs the required system files in Windows so that you can enjoy Group Policy Editor in all Windows 7 editions.
"jwils876" @ DA has shared a small setup file to enable Group Policy Editor in Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic and Home Premium editions.
The installer has been originally created by "davehc" @ Windows7forums, so thanks goes to him as well.
First download the setup file using following link:
You'll find the download link in right-side section of the above mentioned page. After downloading the ZIP file, extract it using WinRAR or 7-Zip. Run the extracted setup.exe file. It'll install the files and you'll be able to access gpedit.msc command via RUN or Start Menu search box.
NOTE 1: For Windows 7 64-bit (x64) users! You'll also need to go to "SysWOW64" folder present in "C:\Windows" folder and copy "GroupPolicy", "GroupPolicyUsers" folders and gpedit.msc file from there and paste them in "C:\Windows\System32" folder.
NOTE 2: If you are getting "MMC could not create the snap-in" error message while running gpedit.msc, check out following steps to fix the problem. Basically it happens when your username in Windows contains more than one word.
1. Run the installer and leave it at the last step (do not click on the "Finish" button).
2. Now go to C:\Windows\Temp\gpedit\ folder.
3. If you are running 32-bit (x86) edition of Windows 7, right-click on x86.bat file and choose "Open With -> Notepad" option. If you are running 64-bit (x64) edition of Windows 7, right-click on x64.bat file and choose "Open With -> Notepad" option.
4. You'll find a total of 6 lines containing the following string in the file:
%username%:f
5. Edit those lines and replace %username%:f with "%username%":f
For example:
Original: icacls %WinDir%\SysWOW64\gpedit.dll /grant:r %username%:f
New: icacls %WinDir%\SysWOW64\gpedit.dll /grant:r "%username%":f
6. Save and run the file (right-click -> Run as Administrator).
7. That's it. You'll have working gpedit.msc.
Thanks to our reader "Teazlee" for the fix...
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Troubleshooting, Windows 7
It Works
Win7 Home Basic
It Works!
Restart your computer. :)
KinSama
It does work!! Thanks!!
I have Win7 Home Premium 64bits.
Win7 64bits
Thanks very much, it works perfectly on my windows 7 home premium 64bits
Josh Hamilton
Thank you I didn't think this would work but it did but then again I don't know crap about pc's,,, -.- anyways thx :D peace out.
mel
i have windows 7 home premium SP1, 64-bit OS... and it works!! just install the .exe download file, then follow the instructions written here by going to syswow and copying the files over to system32. thanks for this!!
WinToday
I've been waiting for this. Hahaha I don't need to upgrade my windows 7 starter 32bit to Professional or Ultimat. Thank you so much. mwuahhh
kap
its perfect .... works furiously
Sashika
it works with 64bit thanks for sharing this... :)
Loui
Thank you :) it worked on my system Win7 64bit.
Dita SN
It works with Windows 8 Home Premium 64-bit. Thanks!
Q
actually there are many people who are still running x86 (32 bit) Windows. In addition......this worked for me. All you have to do is follow the instructions, after install and copying, go to start>run>gpedit.msc and voila!! you have group policy on your Windows 7 home premium machine.
G Singh
Thanks! I've got Win7 32-bit and I got it installed successfully.
veera
hi guys i am using home basic geniune version, i got the settings and now i changed the settings its working , thanks for the great help
spakh
I have windows7 64bit Home Premium, I also got the "MMC could not create the snap-in" error message while running gpedit.msc even after following the additional instructions. After some digging around, I noted that some of dll's may be missing in the SYSTEM32 folder. So I edited C:\Windows\Temp\gpedit\x64.bat file and added the following lines:
copy gpedit.dll %WinDir%\System32\gpedit.dll
copy fde.dll %WinDir%\System32\fde.dll
copy gptext.dll %WinDir%\System32\gptext.dll
copy appmgr.dll %WinDir%\System32\appmgr.dll
copy fdeploy.dll %WinDir%\System32\fdeploy.dll
copy gpedit.msc %WinDir%\System32\gpedit.msc
then reran it (as administrator) and the problem is solved. Thanks for the very useful post!!
Jay
Works for Windows 8 (though I did install it by making sure it was in Windows 7 compatibility; it may still work without putting it into compatibility mode)
Ehs@n
Thnx a lot . . .
so helpful and nice . ..
i have win7 home edition and your soloution really worked . .
. . .
KisS.!
<3
Axon
I have been waitting so long for this, thanks u
prajwal premsagar
thanks it works in my pc home basic 64 bit
Jay
ooh... after allllll. thanks for this post.... it was very necessary... it worked in my win 7 starter x86
(32 Bit) thast it... 'm happy now.... thanks for sharing this knowledge
heavennext
works like a charm.. Thanks a lot
Sean
I'm unsure about leaving the working files in a temp directory, but otherwise this is great.
Win7 64 bit User
Great! Did work for me on Windows 7 Home Professional 64 bit. I've started setup.exe and copied the files and folders as described in Note 1 above. Nothing else.
Thanks a lot!
Richie
thanks, it worked for me
Gary
It works on Vista Home Premium as well... Thanks!
I used this a lot with Windows XP Professional so it is nice to have it back again :)
Dileep
Thank you sooo much for ur software. You have done those things which microsoft has not yet done.
rzeey
why i doesnt have open with option when right clicking the x64.bat file?i cant open it with notepad.help me please...
VG
^^ Open Notepad and drag-n-drop the file inside it.
Nicholas
I'm not sure if spakh's method of solving the "MMC could not create the snap-in" is accurate, however, I also ran into this problem and realized that the x64.bat script fails to copy over those (nearly) same exact files that he mentioned in his comment:
- gpedit.msc
- gpedit.dll
- gptext.dll
- fde.dll
- fdeploy.dll
They failed because of the user permissions on the files. If the Write permission is given to the Administrators group, then the x64.bat script will run flawlessly.
I'm sorry that davehc received so much negative feedback about this unknowningly (possibly?).
4/28/13 1:04PM EST
Win
Thank you very much
Noureddine
it work on windows 8 64bits with me.
gibin
shows
"MMC could not create the snap-in"
V
Thanks for help
Everson
SHOW! Congratulations man!!! =)