DOCUMENT:Q228521 05-AUG-2000 [iis] TITLE :Err Msg: HTTP Error 403, 403.2 Forbidden: Read Access Forbidden PRODUCT :Internet Information Server PROD/VER:winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you browse a Web site using the domain name only (in other words, you do not specify the default file on the Web site), the following error occurs, even though "Enable Default Documents" is turned on and the default document exists: HTTP Error 403 403.2 Forbidden: Read Access Forbidden This error can occur when there is no default page available and directory browsing has not been enabled for the directory, or if you are trying to display an HTML page that resides in a directory marked for Execute or Script permissions only. Please contact the Web server's administrator if the problem persists. However, if you browse the Web site using a URL that includes one of the default files, the file is displayed properly. For example, "http://www.domain.com/" (without the quotation marks) does NOT work, but "http://www.domain.com/default.htm" (without the quotation marks) does. CAUSE ===== The Read access permission is turned off for the root of the Web site, preventing the browser from parsing through the list of default documents. RESOLUTION ========== Turn the Read access permission on, by performing the following steps: 1. Start the Internet Service Manager (ISM), which loads the Internet Information Server snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console (MMC). 2. Right-click the Web site, and then click Properties on the Context menu. 3. Click the Home Directory tab, and then click the Read access permission to enable it. 4. Click OK to return to the ISM. MORE INFORMATION ================ To locate the "Enable Default Document" property in the ISM, view the property sheet for the Web site, and then click the Documents tab. (c) Microsoft Corporation 2000, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Kevin Zollman, Microsoft Corporation. Additional query words: akz ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbiisSearch kbiis400 Version : winnt:4.0 Issue type : kbprb Solution Type : kbpending ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.