Where Is Machine.Config?

450
votes

I want to apply a change so That I can use Server GC settings for my C# 3.5 app - I can do that by editing the machine.config file.

The only problem is I do not know where that is.

How can I find the path of this file in a repeatable way across a number of different machines

9
.netgarbage-collection

9 Answers

610
votes

32-bit

%windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\[version]\config\machine.config

64-bit

%windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\[version]\config\machine.config

[version] should be equal to v1.0.3705, v1.1.4322, v2.0.50727 or v4.0.30319.

v3.0 and v3.5 just contain additional assemblies to v2.0.50727 so there should be no config\machine.config. v4.5.x and v4.6.x are stored inside v4.0.30319.

98
votes

You can run this in powershell: 

[System.Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeEnvironment]::SystemConfigurationFile

Which outputs this for .net 4: 

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\config\machine.config

Note however that this might change depending on whether .net is running as 32 or 64 bit which will result in \Framework\ or \Framework64\ respectively.

45
votes

In order to be absolutely sure, slap a Label on an ASP.NET page and run this code:

labelDebug.Text = System.Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeEnvironment.SystemConfigurationFile;

I believe this will leave no doubt!

16
votes

It semi-depends though... mine is:

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\CONFIG

and

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\CONFIG

3
votes

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\CONFIG

2
votes
  1. Open Windows Run command. Shortcut=> windows key + r
  2. Type "microsoft.net" - MS .Net folder opens up
  3. Open "Framework"/"Framework64" folder(based on your processor).
  4. Select specific FW version folder e.g. "v4.0.30319"
  5. Open config folder
  6. Machine.config will be available there. Cheers.
1
votes

In your asp.net app use this 

using System.Configuration;
Response.Write(ConfigurationManager.OpenMachineConfiguration().FilePath);
1
votes

This is a late reply, but if anyone is still looking to open machine.config and view/update configs, here's an example with IIS config using powershell

$machineConfig = [System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager]::OpenMachineConfiguration()

$deployment = $machineConfig.GetSection("system.web/deployment")

$deplyment.Retail = $true

$machineconfig.save()
-1
votes

You can run this in powershell: copy & paste in power shell [System.Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeEnvironment]::SystemConfigurationFile

mine output is: C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50527\config\machine.config