Active Directory Users and Computers in Windows 7

by | Jun 1, 2009 | Blog, Microsoft Windows

Windows 7 is officially my favorite OS yet!

Here’s how to get the Active Directory Users and Computers installed on Windows 7.  It’s not quite as clear cut as with XP.

First you need to download the Remote Server Administration Tools (that’s the new name for what used to be Server 2003 Admin Pak).

It’s available here from Microsoft.

After you install it you won’t find it anywhere except for a help file in the Adminstrative tools labeled “Remote Server Administration Tools”  This help file was not very helpful.

The key to the puzzle is to go to the control panel and click on programs.
Then click on Turn Windows Features on or off.
In the list of features you’ll find the “Remote Server Administration Tools” section.
Click on the plus next to “Role Administration Tools”.
From there you can enable the Active Directory tools.  After you hit ok you’ll now have Active directory users and computers under the administrative tools.

windows features

34 Comments

  1. dknight211
    dknight211 on January 12, 2010 at 11:24 am

    Thanks for this! Clear and easy to follow!

  2. Ian
    Ian on May 13, 2010 at 10:53 am

    Thanks that worked like a charm! Love Win 7 but always hate the disorientation of a new OS :-s

  3. SCGINVA
    SCGINVA on June 2, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    Thank you so much! That’s what I needed to know.

  4. majorlyCool
    majorlyCool on June 14, 2010 at 9:55 am

    Thanks Jason! Very easy, very well done! The link to the Server Admin Tools is no longer correct.

  5. Jason
    Jason on June 17, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    Thanks for the info about the link, I got it fixed. Appreciate it!

  6. Delboy
    Delboy on July 2, 2010 at 3:55 am

    Thanks Jason, instructions were easy to follow

  7. Stan
    Stan on August 19, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    You are the Best! Been trying to do this for days.

    Thanks!!

  8. imam
    imam on September 1, 2010 at 9:03 am

    many many thanks for share …u save my time ..God Bless u

  9. Wilson
    Wilson on November 16, 2010 at 10:37 am

    Thank you! You are the boss……………

  10. Russ
    Russ on February 21, 2011 at 4:38 am

    excellent. stupid microsoft for making such a simple task so difficult.

    What stupid piece of poo writes these help files???

  11. JoBob
    JoBob on March 3, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    Thanks, man!

  12. Duran
    Duran on April 18, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    Thank you! This was one of the only things keeping me from going to my Win7 box permanently at work

  13. Chris
    Chris on April 28, 2011 at 8:11 am

    Thanks, I was going insane for awhile

  14. Piston Broke
    Piston Broke on June 7, 2011 at 7:03 am

    Cheers Jason I’ve ben faffing around with this for a a few days unable to get it to fly. Your instructions are very simple to follow

    Thanks
    Piston

  15. Ravi
    Ravi on June 23, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    Also — You can use the “Search Active Directory” feature (click on Start>computer>network, you will see a menu on the top). Screens are same as Win XP, thereafter.

  16. Sylvia
    Sylvia on June 27, 2011 at 10:43 am

    Thank you…your information is very informative and helpful. :)

  17. asdf
    asdf on August 23, 2011 at 10:03 am

    Thanks for your help, and thanks to microsoft for apparently randomly clicking buttons when they decided what to upgrade.

  18. SENDO
    SENDO on October 16, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    Thank a lot

  19. jtm
    jtm on October 27, 2011 at 7:14 am

    Thank´s

  20. CSR
    CSR on December 6, 2011 at 7:36 am

    Hi Guys

    Thanks for the detailed instructions, but have an issue with this.

    My OS is Win 7 64 bit. I downloaded the 64 bit version from microsoft and installed successfully.

    After enabling the AD tools and click ok, I am getting the following error

    Windowns Features (Dialogue box)
    An error has occured. Not all of the features were successfully changed.

  21. Amiral
    Amiral on March 3, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    Help full brother, thank

  22. Sam
    Sam on March 7, 2012 at 2:53 pm

    Thanks, That worked!

  23. cz
    cz on July 16, 2012 at 1:37 am

    Thanks a million. =)

  24. Michael
    Michael on July 17, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    done everything you said, and its still not there win 7sp1

  25. Thirdpole
    Thirdpole on July 27, 2012 at 4:36 am

    Thank you so much. Searched everywhere for few days but all instruction were useless. This is the best and clear instruction, I got it, lovin it.

  26. jasen
    jasen on August 2, 2012 at 9:04 am

    Good Job… Thanks!

  27. David
    David on August 7, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    Thanks for taking the time!

  28. Lee Eichelberger
    Lee Eichelberger on August 13, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    “This help file was not very helpful” is an UNDERSTATEMENT. But I guess that is par for Micro$haft

  29. Jose Montero
    Jose Montero on August 22, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    That Worked very well ! Just say no to help files……

  30. Sreeramulu
    Sreeramulu on September 20, 2012 at 3:41 am

    Thanks Jason for the information shared

  31. swaroop
    swaroop on November 23, 2012 at 4:53 am

    thanks ravi. its is a direct one. thank u so much

  32. Richard
    Richard on March 1, 2013 at 5:55 pm

    Thanks Jason, have some more kudos! Microsoft should contract to you to write these articles. At least google made this the most relevant link for me.

  33. shahab
    shahab on March 4, 2013 at 12:16 am

    Thanks

  34. Dennis
    Dennis on April 9, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    Thanks a bunch Jason. Microsoft never ceases to amaze me with their ability to make things so difficult.

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