Information

The following is a troubleshooting checklist that should be referenced when facing issues with a new DNN installation. It is broken down into three major sections: Windows Server, Database, and Installation Wizard.

Windows Server

• The version of windows should be Server 2012 or newer.
• Ensure the correct installation package was downloaded.
• The installation package .zip file was unblocked in the file properties.
• The entire archive was extracted successfully.
• The correct windows features were enabled.
• IIS is functioning as expected (able to browse to the default site).
• The site in IIS points to the folder where the files were extracted.
• Which application pool the site is using.
• Which identity the application pool is using.
• That the application pool identity has modify permission on the folder.
• Connect As… is set to the application pool identity.
• The site has the correct bindings in IIS.
• The site and application pool are both started in IIS.
• The application pool has all default settings in basic and advanced.

More details can be found in this article on setting up IIS.

Database

• SQL Server is accessible using SSMS.
• The database has been created and is named as expected.
• The SQL login has been created and the password is confirmed.
• SQL Server error logs are free from any error messages.
• SQL Server authentication mode is correct for the login type.

Wizard

• The correct domain was entered, based on the IIS binding.
• There are no errors in the browser console.
• Alternative browsers can be used if needed.
• Clear browser cache.
• The correct database settings are entered into the wizard, including database type.
• Object qualifier should not be used in most cases.

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