Last updated: August 27, 2026.
Start with a minimal .asp page, confirm that the IIS ASP role service is installed, then isolate permissions, bitness, and COM/database dependencies.
Minimal test page
<%@ Language="VBScript" %>
<% Response.Write "Classic ASP is running." %>Diagnostic checklist
| Symptom | Check |
|---|---|
| ASP source downloads or returns 404 | Install Web Server (IIS) → Application Development → ASP and ISAPI Extensions. |
| 500 error with no detail | Use IIS logs and Failed Request Tracing; show detailed ASP errors only on a protected development machine. |
| Permission denied | Grant the application-pool identity only the required read/write permissions. |
| COM or driver cannot be created | Match the component’s 32/64-bit architecture and confirm registration plus licensing. |
| Database connection fails | Test network reachability, driver installation, credentials, and least-privilege database access. |
Microsoft documents the current IIS ASP configuration element and installation steps. Do not enable detailed errors for public visitors because exception details can expose paths and configuration.
