Visual Studio 2003 HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error

[Frinavale]

The following article is directed at people who are experiencing an HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error while using Visual Studio 2003.

The error message typically sounds something like:

The web server reported the following error when attempting to create or open the Web Project located at the Following URL:http://localhost/Webapplication1’.HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error’.

This error tends to rear it's ugly head when you're creating a new project after you've done a Windows Update or fresh Windows install. I'm not 100% sure why this error happens but it is quite common and can be quite frustrating to solve. What I think happens is that the .NET Framework is updated but isn't configured properly.

For instance:

• After a fresh Windows install, .NET Framework 1.0 and the ASPNET user account is created to work with this Framework.
  
• Then you go through all the Windows updates...which installs .NET Framework version 1.1 (and later versions), but the ASPNET user isn't updated to know how to use the newest version.

Keep in mind that if you are using Visual Studio 2003 to implement a web application, it uses the .NET Framework version 1.1. This means that if your server is configured to use version 2.0 (or later), you will encounter this error.

So, in trouble shooting this problem you should first check that you have .NET Framework 1.1 installed properly on your web server.

You can do this by:

1. Opening Control Pannel
2. Open Administrative Tools
3. Open Internet Information Services
4. Expand all the folders and find the "Default Web Site" folder (should look like a globe with a hand under it)
5. Right click on the "Default Web Site" and select Properties
6. Click the ASP .NET tab
7. Select the proper ASP .NET version (Version 1.1)
8. Click apply.

If this doesn't solve your problem you'll have to take some additional steps to re-create the ASPNET user account.

To fix this you'll need to recreate the ASPNET user and re-registered the .NET Framework version that you are using.

To do this:

1. delete the ASPNET Windows user
2. open a cmd window
3. go to the directory where your Framework 1.1 is installed
   (this is likely in your C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322)
4. type: aspnet_regiis -i
   (this will re-register the Framework 1.1 and reinstall your ASPNET user so that it works properly)

After you've done this, reboot and then double check that your IIS is still set up to use the .NET Framework 1.1.

Please note that you can still have .NET Framework versions that are newer than version 1.1 still installed on the computer, the important thing is that your IIS (and ASPNET user) is configured to use this version instead of any other version while implementing projects with Visual Studio 2003.

Hopefully this helped you.
Good luck with your future projects,

Cheers!

-Frinny

[nitinmishra82]

thanx alot my problem is solved after i deleted aspnet user account and recreated that as told above
thanx
nitin

[Frinavale]

thanx alot my problem is solved after i deleted aspnet user account and recreated that as told above
thanx
nitin

Good Stuff!
Glad to have helped :)

[Motoma]

Excellent post. I have had issues with this in the past; I managed to solve them, but never figured out the source of the problem.

[bharathreddy]

hai Frinavale ,

Very Nice Article. I faced the same problem.

[rejumgeorge]

Nice Stuff, it really helped

[user316]

I've tried all that was posted above and I am still getting the same error. Any other suggestions?

[Frinavale]

I've tried all that was posted above and I am still getting the same error. Any other suggestions?

Try deleting the ASPNET user again, then reboot the computer before reinstalling the .NET Framework 1.1

Get back to us if you're still having problems.

-Frinny

[keerthp]

Hi Frinavale

Thanks a lot!!!
From morning, I was trying to resolve the error. Finally your post helped me a lot. Once again Thanks!

[keerthp]

Try deleting the ASPNET user again, then reboot the computer before reinstalling the .NET Framework 1.1

Get back to us if you're still having problems.

-Frinny

Hi Frinny

I'm still getting the same error. Can u help me with resolving the error?

[Frinavale]

Hi Frinny

I'm still getting the same error. Can u help me with resolving the error?

Hi Keerthp,

Check your IIS and make sure that it is running with .NET Framework 1.1.
If it isn't change it so that it is and then follow the steps wherein you delete your ASPNET user account...try reinstalling at that point.

-Frinny

[ThomasLa36]

Hi Keerthp,

Check your IIS and make sure that it is running with .NET Framework 1.1.
If it isn't change it so that it is and then follow the steps wherein you delete your ASPNET user account...try reinstalling at that point.

-Frinny

How do I delete my ASPNET user account? What directory is it in and what file is it? I tried reinstalling still getting 500 server error message. I also have Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008 Trial Editions installed is that a problem with Visual Studio 2003 Professional Edition?

ThomasLa36

[Frinavale]

How do I delete my ASPNET user account? What directory is it in and what file is it? I tried reinstalling still getting 500 server error message. I also have Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008 Trial Editions installed is that a problem with Visual Studio 2003 Professional Edition?

ThomasLa36

There shouldn't be any problem with you having more than one VS version installed on the same computer. You have to make sure that your IIS is set up to run with the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 in order to use VS 2003.

To delete the ASPNET user:

• Open Control Panel
• Open User Accounts
• Find ASPNET and click the Remove button

Then make sure you go to your .NET Framework version 1.1 folder and run the aspnet_regiis -i.

Just be aware that you may run into problems running your VS 2005 and VS 2008 web projects on the IIS after you run the aspnet_regiis.

I recommend using the built-in IIS that comes with VS 2005 and VS 2008 while developing.

Cheers!

-Frinny

[ThomasLa36]

There shouldn't be any problem with you having more than one VS version installed on the same computer. You have to make sure that your IIS is set up to run with the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 in order to use VS 2003.

To delete the ASPNET user:

• Open Control Panel
• Open User Accounts
• Find ASPNET and click the Remove button

Then make sure you go to your .NET Framework version 1.1 folder and run the aspnet_regiis -i.

Just be aware that you may run into problems running your VS 2005 and VS 2008 web projects on the IIS after you run the aspnet_regiis.

I recommend using the built-in IIS that comes with VS 2005 and VS 2008 while developing.

Cheers!

-Frinny

There is No ASP.NET user in User Accounts. So now what can i do?

Tom

[ThomasLa36]

There is No ASP.NET user in User Accounts. So now what can i do?

Tom

I should also mention I am running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2 with all updates. I get the same error with Visual Studio 2002.


Tom

[Frinavale]

I should also mention I am running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2 with all updates. I get the same error with Visual Studio 2002.


Tom

Have you tried going to the .NET Framework version 1.1 folder and running the aspnet_regiis?

This will create an ASPNET user and configure your IIS to use it.

Oh, wait , do you have IIS installed?

[Levente Illes]

Thank you.
That's was my problem too.