VS 2012 can't load project which uses IIS with custom binding host - thinks it's using IIS Express
asp.net, iis, iis-express, visual-studio-2012
Solution
Opening as an Administrator didn't fix the problem for me. What fixed it for me was opening both the `.csproj` and `.csproj.user` files and ensuring that both had `UseIISExpress` set to `false`.
In my case, the `.csproj.user` file was overriding the `.csproj` file even though `SaveServerSettingsInUserFile` was marked `false`.
<Project ToolsVersion="12.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
<PropertyGroup>
<UseIISExpress>false</UseIISExpress>
<!-- ... -->
</Project>
Problem
I have an ASP.NET project which uses IIS. IIS site is configured to use custom binding host name. Project file contains following settings: ``` ... <UseIISExpress>false</UseIISExpress> ... <ProjectExtensions> <VisualStudio> <FlavorProperties GUID="{349c5851-65df-11da-9384-00065b846f21}"> <WebProjectProperties> <UseIIS>True</UseIIS> <AutoAssignPort>False</AutoAssignPort> <DevelopmentServerPort>8662</DevelopmentServerPort> <DevelopmentServerVPath>/</DevelopmentServerVPath> <IISUrl>http://custom.host.name/</IISUrl> <NTLMAuthentication>False</NTLMAuthentication> <UseCustomServer>False</UseCustomServer> <CustomServerUrl></CustomServerUrl> <SaveServerSettingsInUserFile>False</SaveServerSettingsInUserFile> </WebProjectProperties> </FlavorProperties> </VisualStudio> </ProjectExtensions> ... ``` When project is configured in such a way, I can access the site from `http://custom.host.name/` and VS automatically attaches to IIS worker process when debugging. When I reload project (either by closing/reopening solution or by unload/reload in project context menu), something unexpected happens. Project fails to load, `(load failed)` is displayed to the right of project name in solution explorer and message box is shown with the following message (it's also displayed in the Output window): ``` The URL 'http://custom.host.name/' for Web project 'Some.Asp.Net.Project' is configured to use IIS Express as the web server but the URL is currently configured on the local IIS web server. To open this project, you must use IIS Manager to remove the bindings using this URL from the local IIS web server. ``` I have tried removing project site configuration from IIS Express `applicationhost.config` file, but it didn't help. I don't encounter this problem when mapping project to IIS Application under default site. VS version is Ultimate 2012 Update 3.