Configuration error: Unrecognized attribute 'xmlns'

Error Message

After installing the Web Application Developer Framework (ADF) or Web Applications features of the ArcGIS Server 9.2 for the Microsoft .NET Framework product, running a Web application fails with the error message:

"Configuration Error

Description: An error occurred during the processing of a configuration file required to service this request.
Please review the specific error details below and modify your configuration file appropriately.

Parser Error Message: Unrecognized attribute 'xmlns'. Note that attribute names are case sensitive"

Cause

During the installation, unexpected XMLNS attributes were added to the web.config file located under C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\CONFIG.

The presence of the following configuration value at the top of the web.config adds the additional XMLNS attributes upon installation of the Web ADF and Web Applications features:

<configuration xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/.NetConfiguration/v2.0">

<configuration>

Note:
Installation of a service pack or patch may also cause this error.

Note:
Note that attribute names are case sensitive.

Solution or Workaround

Warning:
NOTE: The following procedure requires modifying the machine's web.config file. Consult with a qualified computer systems professional, if necessary. ESRI cannot guarantee results from incorrect modifications while following these instructions. Therefore, use caution and proceed at your own risk.

1. Navigate to C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\Config.
2. Create a backup copy of the web.config file.
3. Open the web.config file in a text editor application, such as MS WordPad.
4. Locate the <httpHandlers> attribute. The three lines that immediately follow the <httpHandlers> line were added by the installation of the Web ADF or Web Application features.
5. Edit each of these three lines to remove the XMLNS="" attribute. Example follows.
   
   The end of each line before edit:
   
   

   PublicKeyToken=8fc3cc631e44ad86" validate="false" xmlns="" />

   
   The end of each line after edit:
   
   

   PublicKeyToken=8fc3cc631e44ad86" validate="false" />

   
   
6. Save the changes to the web.config file.