IISExpress 8 Cannot read configuration file redirection.config

Question

I\'m running Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64) with IISExpress8 and when navigating to

c:\\Program Files (x86)\\IIS Express>iisexpress.exe

i

Answer 1

I found that deleting one of the sites from the applicationhost.config file resolve this problem for me.

I used the following command from the %ProgramFiles(x86)%\IISExpress directory:

appcmd list site

then

appcmd delete site rogueSiteName

Especially there was a site name with a bracketed number suffix (e.g. "MySite(1)") that I deleted. I'm not sure yet if VS2013 just had an issue with the brackets or that two sites pointed to the same directory. Either way deleting it made VS happy again.

Background

I had been struggling with this issue for a couple of days and nothing seemed to help - not even the instructions given in the top answers here.

I had also tried moving the config folder as mentioned in http://www.iis.net/learn/extensions/introduction-to-iis-express/iis-80-express-readme. But although VS2013 recreated the directory structure and files in the new location the errors continued and running appcmd showed that it was still pointing at the old location by default.

Credits

Credit for where I found the commands to use goes to http://gyorgybalassy.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/cleaning-up-iis-express-configuration/

Answer 2

Backup files at local IISExpress folder. It can be found at: C:\Users\”username*****”\Documents\IISExpress\config
Go to the location:
C:\Program Files\IIS Express\config\templates\PersonalWebServer
Copy the required files from this directory to the local IISExpress folder.
It worked for me after I copied over the files:
applicationhost.config
aspnet.config
redirection.config

Answer 3

The issue is that the files in C:\Users\"Your Username"\Documents\IISExpress\config are encrypted. Open this folder, Select all the files, Right click and select properties, Click advanced, deselect "Encrypt contents to secure data, Click okay, click apply.

That will fix it.

Answer 4

For ASP.Net Core just access your Properties section, then make a modification and save it.

Example: I modified the SSL port

You will get a notification that your launchsettings.json was modified. Accept that and you're good to go.

Answer 5

If you do:

C:\Users\”username*****”\Documents\IISExpress\config

You find these file

applicationhost.config
aspnet.config
redirection.config

Delete above 3 file and then open the project.then the problem is solved. I tried, its working fine.

Answer 6

After trying to solve an issue with a quick fix of changing IIS express inside visual studio from integrated to classic pipeline , I ended up not being able to use IIS express at all. I tried all techniques above...

I could not rename , copy the file. Uninstall of IIS express and re-install did not work.

I FINALLY downloaded the latest version of WebMatrix and installed IIS express 8, that did not work, but at least then i was able to finally delete the old directory and then I recreated itself.....

NOT FUN AT ALL.