I'm having trouble adding the ASPNET account name to my user list. Please help.

I was in a forest and a tree fell right in front of me and I didn't hear it.

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I was in a forest and a tree fell right in front of me and I didn't hear it - Stephen Wright.

If you have IIS installed, ASPNET and NETWORK SERVICE should be available. From Windows Explorer, right click the folder where your application files are - in book example, c:\websites\PPQ\App_Data, select Properties, and Security. If you don't see these objects, you must add them. Click the Add button as shown on p.8, and be sure your computer name is showing under the From this location. If it's not showing click the Location button and select it. You should then be able to type in ASPNET in the Enter the Object Names and Click Check Names. If it's there, it will come back with your computer name\ASPNET.

If it doesn't, you have another problem. You needed to follow the install in the correct order: first, IIS, then the CD or download that adds .net FW, SqlExpress, and Visual Web Developer. If you did that, try to go to Add/Remove Programs, select .Net Framework and click Repair. This might do it for you. If it still doesn't work, uninstall everything, and start over, unless someone else has a better idea.

stabor,

Thanks a bunch. I bet that'll work but I'll keep you posted.

I was in a forest and a tree fell right in front of me and I didn't hear it.

I ended up deleting everything and starting over. I can now add the services to the folder-userlist, but the databases are still not available (they indicate a Red X, respectively). Any other ideas?

I was in a forest and a tree fell right in front of me and I didn't hear it.

The book doesn't seem to suggest IIS is necessary. Unlike VWD Express and SQL Express, IIS doesn't appear to be freeware. What value does an end-user receive by installing IIS?