Config Error: This configuration section cannot be

Question

I've encountered an error deploying a site to a server. When trying to load the home page, or access authentication on the new site in IIS, I get the error:

Config Error: This configuration section cannot be used at this path. This happens when the section is locked at a parent level. Locking is either by default (overrideModeDefault="Deny"), or set explicitly by a location tag with overrideMode="Deny" or the legacy allowOverride="false".

More detail can be found here, in Scenario 7 matches my hex error code.

The solution given on the linked site above is to set Allow for overrideModeDefault in the section mentioned in my error, in the applicationHost.config file. In my case, under Security in system.webServer. But if I look at the applicationHost.config on my local computer, where the site is properly deployed already, that section is set to Deny.

If this solution is correct, how is my local instance running just fine with the same web.config? According to my applicationHost.config, that section should be locked, but it's not. I'd prefer to not change the applicationHost.config file, because there are many other sites running on that server. Is there another solution?

Answer 1

For Win 10 (Probably will work on other windows versions as well.)

1. Open "Turn windows features on or off" by: WinKey+ R => "optionalfeatures" => OK

2. Enable those features under "Application Development Features"

Answer 2

This worked for me Also in IIS 8 you can solve this problem by changing the server to IIS Express. Goto debug->Properties In the Web select the server as IIS Express from the dropdown and then rebuild the solution

Answer 3

The following worked for me:

Go to project properties. Web tab. Set to Local IIS and set specific page.

I have Windows 7 and Visual Studio 2013.

Answer 4

In my case it was that on server was not enabled "HTTP Activation" under .NET Framework Features. So for Windows Server 2012 the solution which worked for me was:

Server Manager -> Add roles and features -> Features -> make sure that under .NET Framework of version you want to use is checked "HTTP Activation"

Answer 5

Can You try this:

Go to application path where you're getting deny error, right click

Properties->Security tab

In that, change the permissions and check the checkbox read and write. Then it will work without any error hopefully.

Answer 6

I had an issue where I was putting in the override = "Allow" values (mentioned here already)......but on a x64 bit system.......my 32 notepad++ was phantom saving them. Switching to Notepad (which is a 64bit application on a x64 bit O/S) allowed me to save the settings.

See :

http://dpotter.net/technical/2009/11/editing-applicationhostconfig-on-64-bit-windows/

The relevant text:

One of the problems I’m running down required that I view and possibly edit applicationHost.config. This file is located at %SystemRoot%\System32\inetsrv\config. Seems simple enough. I was able to find it from the command line easily, but when I went to load it in my favorite editor (Notepad++) I got a file not found error. Turns out that the System32 folder is redirected for 32-bit applications to SysWOW64. There appears to be no way to view the System32 folder using a 32-bit app. Go figure. Fortunately, 64-bit versions of Windows ship with a 64-bit version of Notepad. As much as I dislike it, at least it works.