IIS Express 8 - Cannot write configuration file

Question

I am trying to use IIS Express 8 for a MVC site in VS2012. I am getting the following error whenever I attempt to create the site:

Filename: \\?\\C:

Answer 1

After struggling with this, and verifying encryption and read-only attributes, and having them not work, my solution ended up being:

• Navigate to the folder containing the IISExpress folder (in my case, it was in my OneDrive, not Documents folder)
• Right click on IISExpress folder > Security tab > Advanced button
• Change Owner to yourself, even if it already is
• Check the "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" box
  • This may not appear until you've completed the Change owner dialog
• Open the IISExpress folder
• Right click on config folder > Security tab > Advanced button
• Add a user > Add principal
• Change location to local machine (and not a domain)
• Enter the name NETWORK SERVICE and "Check Names"
• Press OK to get back to the Advance Security dialog
• Make sure to check "Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object"

Worked in Windows 10 with IISExpress 10, for both VS 2013 and VS 2017.