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# Troubleshoot IIS - Configuration option cannot be used

## Problem

When loading SupportPal you see:

```

This configuration section cannot be used at this path. This happens when the section is locked at a parent level.
Locking is either by default (overrideModeDefault="Deny"), or set explicitly by a location tag with overrideMode="Deny" or the legacy allowOverride="false".

```

## Cause

 IIS allows server administrators to prevent users from overriding specific configuration directives in a user defined `web.config` file. This is similar to the `AllowOverride` directive in Apache. The error states that a configuration directive used in our [suggested](System+Requirements#iis) `web.config` file cannot be overridden.

## Resolution

1. Open `%SystemRoot%\System32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config`
2. Search for the statements below and change the `allowOverride` attribute from `Deny` to `Allow` ```
    
                <section name="handlers" allowOverride="Deny" />
                <section name="modules" allowOverride="Deny" />
            
    ```
3. Restart IIS

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*Useful Links*

- [ \[StackOverflow\] Config Error: This configuration section cannot be used at this path ](https://stackoverflow.com/q/9794985/2653593)
- [ \[Microsoft\] How to use locking in IIS configuration ](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/iis/get-started/planning-for-security/how-to-use-locking-in-iis-configuration#task-1-locking-a-section-using-a-location-tag)