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iiswindows-10windows-update

IIS gone (including sites and application pools) after Windows 10 Creators Update


After installing the Windows 10 Creators Update (1607), IIS is no longer installed.

When I re-install it from "Turn Windows features on or off", I find that all my application pools and all my sites are gone.


Solution

  • The "good" news is that there seems to be a way to restore the IIS app pools and sites (after re-enabling IIS from "Turn Windows features on or off").

    It’s a little tricky and error prone, but it’s better than nothing.

    Here is the procedure that worked for me:

    1. In a text editor, open C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config. This is the original IIS data from before the update.
    2. In another text editor open C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config. This is the active IIS data.
    3. Replace the <applicationPools> and <sites> elements in the active file with those from the original
    4. Run iisreset from an elevated command prompt