PRB: "Access Is Denied" Error Message When You Use System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break in an ASP.NET Application

When you use the System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break method to invoke a just-in-time (JIT) debugging window in an ASP.NET application, you may receive the following error message:Note ServerName is the name of your Web server.

By default, the ASP.NET worker process runs under the ASPNET user account. This ASPNET account does not have the user right to invoke JIT by using the System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break method unless the account is added to the Debugging Users group.

To resolve this problem, add the ASPNET user account to the Debugger Users group or run the ASP.NET worker process under another user account that has debugging rights.

To add the ASPNET user account to the Debugger Users group, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.
2. In Computer Management, expand System Tools, expand Local Users and Groups, and then expand Groups.
3. Double-click Debugger Users.
4. In the Debugger Users Properties dialog box, click Add.
5. In the Select Users or Groups dialog box, type ServerName\ASPNET in the text box, and then click OK two times.
6. Close the Computer Management tool.
7. Create an ASP.NET Web Application project, as explained in the steps 1 through 4 of the "More Information" section.
8. Type the following URL in the browser:
   http://ServerName/JitTest/WebForm1.aspx
   Note ServerName is name of the Web server.
   
   Verify that the expected JIT window is invoked.

Important By adding users to the Debugger Users group, you might create a security risk because you are allowing those users to gain access to your computer. Only add those users who must have debugger access on that specific computer. It is not a good idea to add Everyone to the Debugger Users group.

This behavior is by design.

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

1. In Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, create a new ASP.NET Web Application project by using Visual Basic .NET or Visual C# .NET. Name the project JitTest. By default, WebForm1.aspx is created.
2. Right-click WebForm1.aspx, and then click View Code.
3. Modify the Page_Load event as follows :
   
   Visual C# .NET Sample Code

   private void Page_Load(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
   {
    System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break();
   }

   Visual Basic .NET Sample Code

   Private Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
     System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break()
   End Sub

4. On the Build menu, click Build Solution.
5. Type the following URL in the browser:

   http://ServerName/JitTest/WebForm1.aspx

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site: