Config Error: This configuration section cannot be used at this path

Question

I\'ve encountered an error deploying a site to a server. When trying to load the home page, or access authentication on the new site in IIS, I get the error:

Answer 1

In my case it was that on server was not enabled "HTTP Activation" under .NET Framework Features. So for Windows Server 2012 the solution which worked for me was:

Server Manager -> Add roles and features -> Features -> make sure that under .NET Framework of version you want to use is checked "HTTP Activation"

Answer 2

Received this same issue after installing IIS 7 on Vista Home Premium. To correct error I changed the following values located in the applicationHost.config file located in Windows\system32\inetsrv.

Change all of the following values located in section -->

<div mce_keep="true"><section name="handlers" overrideModeDefault="Deny" /> change this value from "Deny" to "Allow"</div>
<div mce_keep="true"><section name="modules" allowDefinition="MachineToApplication" overrideModeDefault="Deny" /> change this value from "Deny" to "Allow"</div>

Answer 3

For Windows Server 2012 and IIS 8, the procedure is similar.

The Web Server (IIS) and Application Server should be installed, and you should also have the optional Web Server (IIS) Support under Application Server.

Answer 4

You need to unlock handlers. This can be done using following cmd command:

%windir%\system32\inetsrv\appcmd.exe unlock config -section:system.webServer/handlers

Maybe another info for people that are getting this error on IIS 8, in my case was on Microsoft Server 2012 platform. I had spend couple of hours battling with other errors that bubbled up after executing appcmd. In the end I was able to fix it by removing Web Server Role and installing it again.

Answer 5

To make a change at Application Level (Web.Config):

Please remove the Trust Level from the web.config:

Actually I was getting this error when I was trying to host my Website on the Hosting Server where I don't have control on their Server. Removing the above line from my Application web.config solved my issue.

Answer 6

I needed to change the SSL settings on a subfolder when i got this nice message. In my case following action helped me out.

Opened C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config

And changed the value from overrideModeDefault="Deny" to "Allow"

<sectionGroup name="system.webServer">
 ...
    <sectionGroup name="security">
        <section name="access" overrideModeDefault="Allow" />
    </sectionGroup>