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Support Knowledge Base, Article 635
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Title
Error: "Server Error in '/WebApplication' Application. Access denied to 'C:\inetpub\wwwroot\WebApp' directory. Failed to start monitoring directory changes."
Problem
In ASP.NET web applications, if the user account lacks NTFS permissions to the application directory, then the "Failed to start monitoring directory changes" error will be received.
Solution
If the above error occurs, then IIS is running under an account that does not have access to the directory indicated in the error message (in this case, "C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Webapp\"). By default, ASP.NET applications run under the ASPNET user account for the server where the application is running. There are two solutions to this error:
  1. Grant the ASPNET user account NTFS permissions to the directory where the application is located. At a minimum, ASPNET requires Read permission.
  2. In the web.config file, allow impersonation so that the application runs under an authorized user, such as IUSR_<machine_name>. The impersonated account must also have NTFS Read permission to the application directory. Instructions on how to do this can be found in KB #533.
Created : 6/26/2003 4:29:18 PM (last modified : 3/26/2008 5:17:57 PM)
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