IIS w3svc error

Question

I am trying to start my website in IIS, whenever I try to start my website I get the following error

Cannot start service w3svc on computer

Answer 1

Make sure these 2 services running and their startup type is automatic.If they disabled and not running right click on them and go to properties and change from there.

1. Windows process activation service
2. Worldwide web publishing service.

Answer 2

Go to Task Manager --> Processes and manually stop the W3SVC process. After doing this the process should start normally when restarting IIS

Answer 3

I have had this problem after a windows update. Windows Process Activation Service is dependent service for W3SVC. First, make sure that Windows Process Activation Service is running. In my case, it was not running and when I tried to run it manually, I got below error.

Windows Process Activation Service Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified

The issue seems to be, that windows adds an incorrect parameter to the WAS service startup parameters. I fixed the issue using the following steps:

• Start regedit (just type it into start) Navigate to

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WAS\Parameters

• Delete the NanoSetup variable. This variable is preventing WAS from starting

• Start the WAS service using task manager

• Now start the W3SVC service

• You can now start your website in IIS again

I found above WPA service solution in this stack overflow thread.

Answer 4

None of the answers above helped me.

It turns out my Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service was disabled. I changed its startup to manual, started the service, and then IISRESET worked.

I also verified that the following dependent services were started in Services ([windows]+[r] services.msc):

• World Wide Web Publishing Service
• Windows Process Activation Service
• Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
• DCOM Server Process Launcher
• RPC Endpoint Mapper
• Net.Msmq Listener Adapter
• Net.Pipe Listener Adapter
• Net.Tcp Listener Adapter
• Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service

I found this solution by going through all dependencies and child dependencies of the World Wide Web Publishing Service and making sure that each service was enabled and started.

To verify all services for yourself, do the following:

1. Open up Services (just search for it from the start menu in Windows 10)
2. Find the World Wide Web Publishing Service
3. Right click on the service and then click "Properties"
4. Click on the Dependencies tab
5. Go through each system component in the two boxes and verify that each service is started (in Services).
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for each of the dependencies' dependencies until you run out of child dependencies

Service Properties - Dependencies Tab

Answer 5

Well finally after a week struggle, I came to a solution. I am listing down the steps which I followed to solve my error:

1. Confirm that "Windows Management Instrumentation" is started and its start up type is set to automatic.

2. Also make sure the following dependency services are started for World Wide Web Publishing Service:

   • Windows Process Activation Service
   • Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
   • DCOM Server Process Launcher
   • RPC Endpoint Mapper.

3. Open regedit, navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HTTP]:
   a) Double click on Start and change value data from 4(disabled) to 3(automatically).
   b) Delete "NoRun" key if this key exists.

4. (warning: backup any IIS website configuration first). UN-install "Internet information Service" and "Windows process activation service(if it is already installed)" from "Turn windows feature on or off" and Restart your PC.

5. Type the below command in CMD and press enter:

   net start http
   

Now it will notify you that service is already running.

6. Re-install Internet information Service from "Turn windows feature on or off".

7. Start IIS and my websites are started now, no more "w3svc service is not running error."

Answer 6

As for me - I just restarted the computer.