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SYMPTOMS

In some cases, you may see the following error when opening the WSUS application.

An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the
stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Access denied to 'c:\inetpub\wwwroot\web.config'. Failed to start monitoring file changes.

Exception Details: System.Web.HttpException: Access denied to 'c:\inetpub\wwwroot\web.config'. Failed to start monitoring file changes.

Source Error

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace

[HttpException (0x80070005): Access denied to 'c:\inetpub\wwwroot\web.config'. Failed to start monitoring file changes.]
System.Web.DirectoryMonitor.AddFileMonitor(String file)
+381
System.Web.DirectoryMonitor.StartMonitoringFile(String
file, FileChangeEventHandler callback, String alias) +76
System.Web.FileChangesMonitor.StartMonitoringFile
(String alias, FileChangeEventHandler callback) +322

System.Web.Configuration.HttpConfigurationSystem.AddFileDependency(String file) +139

System.Web.Configuration.HttpConfigurationSystem.ComposeCon
fig(String reqPath, IHttpMapPath configmap) +560
System.Web.HttpContext.GetCompleteConfigRecord(String
reqpath, IHttpMapPath configmap) +434
System.Web.HttpContext.GetCompleteConfig() +48
System.Web.HttpContext.GetConfig(String name) +195
System.Web.CustomErrors.GetSettings(HttpContext
context, Boolean canThrow) +20
System.Web.HttpResponse.ReportRuntimeError(Exception e,
Boolean canThrow) +40
System.Web.HttpRuntime.FinishRequest(HttpWorkerRequest
wr, HttpContext context, Exception e) +480

-----------------------------------------------------------

Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework
Version:1.1.4322.2032; ASP.NET Version:1.1.4322.2032

-----------------------------------------------------------

Workaround

It sounds like a bad install. Normally, there is no copy of web.config in that location. The effective permissions for inetpub\wwwroot should be admin and system full control and everyone read.

Verify permissions and maybe even consider a uninstall/reinstall.