ASP.NET: "It is an error to use a section registered as allowDefinition='MachineToApplication' beyond application level"

You may get this error when trying to browse an asp.net application.

The debug information shows that "This error can be caused by a virtual directory not being configured as an application in IIS."

When you create an new web application using visual studio.net, it automatically creates the virtual directory and configures it as an application. However, if you manually create the virtual directory and it is not configured as an application, then you will not be able to browse the application and may get the above error. The debug information you get as mentioned above, is applicable to this scenario.

To resolve it, Right Click on the virtual directory - select properties and then click on "Create" next to the "Application" Label and the textbox. It will automatically create the "application" using the virtual directory's name. Now the application can be accessed.

This solution 'borrowed' from this blog.