I recently made the switch from VS2005 to VS2008 and have been hitting a problem in the new environment. I typically use the "ASP.NET Configuration" tool (found at the hammer and world icon in the solution explorer, or at [Website]>[ASP.NET Configuration] on the menu bar) to manage my membership and role providers.

When I launch the tool in 2008, the task bar will pop up and indicate that it is running on http://localhost:1234/asp.netwebadminfiles. Part of the problem is that it never launches in the browser like it used to in 2005. I can browse to this address manually but I will get a page that reads "An error was encountered. Please return to the previous page and try again." Obviously, there is no previous page. If I try to access any other page, such as the link to the "help" page on the top right, I'll get a "Tool Has Timed Out" message despite having started the tool only seconds earlier!

If I repeating the process in 2005, everything works as expected.

Whats the deal??? Thanks!

Jeff
 

Jeff,

 I just installed VS 2008 and started to view the ASP.Net videos.  A similiar problem exists on my pc as well.

Win/XP Pro SP-2

Verizon/Yahoo DSL

  A simple web site was created with a label, checkbox and login control.  When I click on the 'start debugging' arrow, the website display correctly with the following URL:

http://localhost:1261/adminTest/Default.aspx

It makes NO difference if  'Use dynamic ports' is set to True or False for the project...

If I try to view a page using the 'view in browser' method or attempt to invoke the ASP.NET Configuration Tool (from the login control, or Solutions Panel, or Menu option),  The  browser starts and the following warning is displayed:

_______________________________________________________

"Warning: the page you are about to visit may attempt to request your personal information (such as passwords, credit card numbers and social security numbers) for unauthorized use or may otherwise attempt to harm your computer.

Malicious web sites can use this type of address in order to disguise themselves.

The destination may appear to be:

%22http

but the actual destination is:

%22http

Do you still want to open the webpage.  (Yes and NO Buttons)

____________________________________________________

When I select the 'Yes" button, the browser (MS Explorer 7) tries to load the page, but navigation fails because the page can't be found, the browser terminates and throws me back into the VS Studio IDE.

Looking at the browser history for %22http - this is what was passed to the browser:

http://%22http//localhost:1286/asp.netwebadminfiles/default.aspx?applicationPhysicalPath=C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Home.%20PC11\My%20Documents\Visual%20Studio%202008\WebSites\adminTest\&applicationUrl=/adminTest"

Thr 'http://%22' preceeds what I think should be the correct URL (just guessing....) The same result happens weather I create the website using the 'File System" or as 'localhost" in the Win/XP IIS.

Note: I am creating the website as a Net.Framework 3.5, but the ASP.NET Configuration Tool is located at:

Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\ASP.NETWebAdminFiles (I assume this is OK since it is not in the 3.5 folder...)

I hope this information will help someone to suggest a solution to our problem..

Regards,

Jim

Jeff, 

I just downloaded and installed the Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Editon and got the same results.. The 2008 version that came with VS 2008 Standard edition has other problems e.g. Toolbox becomes empty and setting 'absolute control positioning' in the 'Options' menu does not appy to subsequent control additions from the Toolbox..   I'll keep checking back for some feedback.. If none appears, I'll report it as a bug...

 Regards,

Jim

 Thanks for the update Jim. I've been monitoring these forums for quite some time regarding this situation and I never find anything. Maybe 2008 just hasn't been adopted enough or by the right people for this issue to get any visibility.

Jeff, 

I posted my first comment to you as a New Post - 'View In Browser Problem'.  Got a quick and excellent response from Mikhail (MSFT) and the problem is solved.  Hope this will fix your problem too.

Here is the reference for the message trail:

http://forums.asp.net/p/1227409/2206416.aspx#2206416

Good Luck,

Jim

 Wow Jim! You're awesome! Thanks for getting this all figured out. I hope that is just a workaround as opposed to a fix but at least I can get to that tool now!

Jeff,

This is not a work-around, but a feature that is available, but not obvious, at first.  Mikhail (MSFT, 34,000 + point guy) explained that this feature was created because people have multiple browsers installed for various reasons. In my case, IE, Verizon/Yahoo DSL and the VS 2008 built-in browser)  This feature allows you to choose which browser to use in the development environment,  He originally suggested that I set IE as my default browser, which I did. But, VS ignores this and maintains it own list of available browsers for you to choose from as he explained in a later message.

Looks like we are back in business..

Regards,

Jim

See, I don't understand that. Why cant I use Firefox, or Yahoo or any other browser to access that tool? The configuration tool in VS 2005 worked with Firefox (and I assume other browsers too). I guess this is more of a rhetorical question, or one pointed at Microsoft which Im not expecting to get answered.

Jeff, 

You could potentially use Firefox or any other browser. In my case Yahoo worked fine for project (F5 Start etc.), but not as a 'View In Browser' or admin function in the Login control.  Yahoo is a customized version of IE 7 that interpreted the 'View In Browser' url as a possible hacker attack. It was different then the start project url..

 Since it only involves unit testing of a page or admin access, it's no problem to use IE or the built-in browser. Yahoo has no problem running the compete project. If that is also true for Firefox, then you are home free..

Good luck with your development...

Jim