14
votes

I am getting this error when I try to run an ASP.NET application without a web.config file.

The requested page cannot be accessed because the related configuration data for the page is invalid

as I read, we can run .NET applications without web config files, but when I tried it is giving me the error. I am using iis 7 on windows 7 machine.

When I create the application virtual directory inside inetpub/wwwroot it works fine. Why doesn't the other directory location?

3

3 Answers

7
votes

This can be a reason:

If there is no Web.config file in the UNC directory, IIS 7.0 uses the rules that are defined for the parent directory. For the Web content to be served in this scenario, the worker-process identity must have access to the whole content directory. Otherwise, the Web request is rejected.

Details here.

17
votes

One reason could be the version of .NET framework (on IIS or application pool level) is different from the application one.

Another reason could be if there are modules used in your web.config which the current configuration of IIS doesn't recognize. E.g. URL rewrite or other optional modules, which you have to explicitly enable before using.

2
votes

You need to set permission for your Website folder or copy them to wwwroot folder.

If you choose to set permission, there are two ways:

  • Right click on Your Website folder, or
  • Right click to Your Website in IIS

Then select Edit permission and Add a permission (IUSR - default iis user)