Recreating a missing ASPNET machine account

ASP.NET 2.0 uses NETWORK SERVICE or the ASPNET machine account as it's service account. NETWORK SERVICE is using on Windows 2003 Server and ASPNET is normally used on Windows XP Professional. If you find yourself needing to recreate the ASPNET machine account to allow ASP.NET applications to work properly you can do so using the following method:

1. Create the account using the same name (ASPNET) or any name you choose

2. Go to a command prompt and run the following command:

%systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\[current version]\aspnet_regiis.exe -ga [ACCOUNTNAME]

The last step will apply the appropriate permissions to allow the new account to access the IIS metabase.