asp.net FileUpload control problem: access to directory is denied

Question

Hi, Im trying to use the fileupload control. Im using Visual Web Developer Express on my desktop.

My web application is working fine except I cant use the fileUpload control. I get the following error:

ERROR: Access to the path (My_Directory) is denied

I searched and it appears to be a permissions problem. So I attempted to add the user ASPNET and give appropriate permissions to the directory, however, I was unable to add user "ASPNET". User "ASPNET" was not found.

So then I followed the following directions to add user ASPNET via Control Panel > Administration > Computer management. So now I was able to add user ASPNET to the directory and give appropriate permissions but I still got the above error.

http://p2p.wrox.com/net-web-services/5918-creating-aspnet-user.html

Any ideas on why I cant access the directory?

Answer 1

If you're using Vista/Windows 7/Win2003/Win2008, the user you need is the Network Service account. You can verify by seeing what user your application pool is running under.

Grant the proper permissions to that account (if indeed it's the account that your application pool is running under) and you'll be golden. Note also that with Windows 7 and Win2008, the default account could be the ApplicationPoolIdentity, which you can find out more information about at http://forums.iis.net/t/1156692.aspx. Regardless, you can simply switch the account that your application pool is running under to the Network Service account to verify that that is the issue.