Error Message: The Site Name You Entered Is Not Valid. The Name Contains Invalid Characters... (256269)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Site Server 3.0 Commerce Edition

This article was previously published under Q256269
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the metabase. Before you edit the metabase, verify that you have a backup copy that you can restore if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, see the "Configuration Backup/Restore" Help topic in Microsoft Management Console (MMC).

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Site Foundation Wizard to create a store that has the same name as a store that has been previously deleted, the following error message may display in the browser:
The Site name you entered is not valid. The name contains invalid characters or the name is already used by another web application.

CAUSE

This error message occurs if the name that is being used for the store already exists in the metabase.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you edit the metabase incorrectly, you can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall any product that uses the metabase. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems that result if you incorrectly edit the metabase can be solved. Edit the metabase at your own risk.

NOTE: Always back up the metabase before you edit it.

Determine if the name still exists in the metabase by typing the following command line at the command prompt:
C:\WINNT\system32\inetsrv\adminsamples>cscript.exe adsutil.vbs enum /p w3svc/1/root
				
Examine the results returned from the command to see if the name of the store you are trying to create exists. If the name does exist, delete it from the metabase by typing the following command line at the command prompt:
C:\WINNT\system32\inetsrv\adminsamples>cscript.exe adsutil.vbs delete w3svc/1/root/<name of store>
				

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/28/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB256269