WMI provider says no.

Lets start with a simple issue that I have struggled with a few times. I try to start SQL Server Configuration Manager and is met with the following puzzling message:

Cannot connect to WMI provider. You do not have permission or the server is 
unreachable. Note that you can only manage SQL Server 2005 and later servers 
with SQL Server Configuration Manager. Invalid namespace [0x8004100e]

The Internet list many culprits and most agree that WMI is not to blame this time. Exactly what causes the error seems to be somewhat random. Someone blames 32 vs. 64-bit mixed installations. I have experienced it after patching or installing multiple different instances on the same server, or even just patching an instance. Lets all agree it is caused by change of some kind.

Usually this issue is rather easy to resolve. Open CMD as administrator and type (or copy) the following and take care to replace 000 with your SQL Server version number (check the table below if you are uncertain). If you also installed SQL Server to some other location than the “Program Files” folder you will have to correct that in the statement below.

mofcomp "%programfiles(x86)%\Microsoft SQL Server\000\Shared\sqlmgmproviderxpsp2up.mof"

For convenience I have a list of version names and how they relate to the version number below. In addition I can mention that Microsoft provides a bit of information regarding the issue at Microsoft Docs.