PRB: "Failed to Start Monitoring Directory Changes" Error Message When You Browse to ASP.NET Page (316721)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft ASP.NET (included with the .NET Framework 1.1)
  • Microsoft ASP.NET (included with the .NET Framework) 1.0
This article was previously published under Q316721

SYMPTOMS

When you browse to an ASP.NET (.aspx) page, you may receive the following error message
Access denied to 'C:\Inetpub\Wwwroot' directory. Failed to start monitoring directory changes.
with the stack trace:

[HttpException (0x80004005): Access denied to 'C:\Inetpub\Wwwroot' directory.
Failed to start monitoring directory changes.]
System.Web.NativeDirMonCompletion..ctor(String dir, Boolean watchSubtree, 
Boolean renamesOnly, NativeFileChangeNotification callback)
System.Web.FileChangesMonitor.StartMonitoringDirectoryRenamesAndBinDirectory(String dir,
FileChangeEventHandler callback)
System.Web.HttpRuntime.StartMonitoringDirectoryRenamesAndBinDirectory()
System.Web.HttpRuntime.FirstRequestInit(HttpContext context)

[HttpException (0x80004005): ASP.NET Initialization Error]
System.Web.HttpRuntime.FirstRequestInit(HttpContext context)
System.Web.HttpRuntime.ProcessRequestInternal(HttpWorkerRequest wr)
Alternatively, you may receive the following error message
Server cannot access application directory 'C:\Inetpub\Wwwroot\Virtual Directory Name\'. The directory does not exist or is not accessible because of security settings.
with the stack trace:

[HttpException (0x80004005): Server cannot access application directory
'C:\Inetpub\Wwwroot\Virtual Directory Name.
The directory does not exist or is not accessible because of security settings.]
System.Web.HttpRuntime.EnsureAccessToApplicationDirectory()
System.Web.HttpRuntime.FirstRequestInit(HttpContext context)
[HttpException (0x80004005): ASP.NET Initialization Error] System.Web.HttpRuntime.FirstRequestInit(HttpContext context)
System.Web.HttpRuntime.ProcessRequestInternal(HttpWorkerRequest wr)

CAUSE

By design, in Microsoft Windows 2000 and in Microsoft Windows XP, ASP.NET requires read, execute, and list access for the ASPNET account (the Aspnet_wp.exe process account) on the root Web site or on any virtual directory. Similarly, in Microsoft Windows Server 2003, ASP.NET requires read, execute, and list access for the NETWORK SERVICE account (the W3wp.exe process account) on the root Web site or on any virtual directory. This is necessary so that ASP.NET can access the content files and can monitor file changes.

RESOLUTION

To add read, execute, and list access for the ASPNET account on the root Web site or on any virtual directory, follow these steps:
  1. In Windows Explorer, browse to the folder that contains the root Web site (which is C:\Inetpub\Wwwroot by default) or the virtual directory.
  2. Right-click the folder, and then click Properties.
  3. On the Security tab, click Add.
  4. Type ComputerName\ASPNET (for example, on a computer named Webdev, type Webdev\ASPNET), and then click OK.
  5. Allow the following permissions for the ASPNET account:
    • Read & Execute
    • List Folder Contents
    • Read


  6. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box and to save the changes.
NOTE: You do not need to perform these steps if the Everyone group or the Users group has read access to the root Web site or virtual directory.

MORE INFORMATION

If you receive either of the error messages that are listed in the "Symptoms" section but your stack trace differs from the stack traces in the "Symptoms" section, the cause for your error message may be different.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

317955 FIX: "Failed to Start Monitoring Directory Changes" Error Message When You Browse to an ASP.NET Page

REFERENCES

For additional information about ASP.NET security issues on a domain controller, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

315158 PRB: ASP.NET Does Not Work with a Non-Administrator Domain Account on a Domain Controller

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/8/2005
Keywords:kbConfig kbHttpRuntime kbprb kbSecurity kbWebForms KB316721
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