OK .. I'm about 5 minutes away from nutting the desktop here - if you have a free second to give me your thoughts I'd very muchappreciate it.  I have seen others with this issue but can't find a solution.

I am installing DNN 4.5.5 locally (have to install 4.5.5 because I need to learn how to build modules for 4.5.5 because our client servers currently host that) and I am running into a problem.  I want to clarify as much as possible the situation so hopefully I can keep my job :).

1) I have Visual Studio 2005 installed ... connects to MS SQL server 2005 no problem on a little dummy website (not DNN) which shows helloworld.aspx in the browser no problem.

2) I DO NOT have IIS installed because it was my understanding that Vis Stud must have sort of internal IIS - afterall my helloworld.aspx is showing in the browser.

3) My web config is configured as follows (don't have username and passwd because it's local shouldn't need them if use windows authentication just like ms sql server:

  <connectionStrings>
   
    <add name="BE30ConnectionString" connectionString="Data Source=localhost;database=BE30;Integrated Security=True" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />

  </connectionStrings>

  <appSettings>
   
    <add key="BE30ConnectionString" value="Data Source=localhost;database=BE30;Integrated Security=True" />

</appSettings>

4) Here's the issue with my DNN 4.5.5 installation when I try to run it.:

Server Error in '/DNN' Application.

---

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Line 80: 
Line 81:             'Determine the Upgrade status and redirect to Install.aspx
Line 82:             Select Case GetUpgradeStatus()
Line 83:                 Case Globals.UpgradeStatus.Install
Line 84:                     If AutoUpgrade Then

[NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.]
   DotNetNuke.Common.Utilities.Config.GetConnectionString(String name) +47
   DotNetNuke.Common.Utilities.Config.GetConnectionString() +38
   DotNetNuke.Data.SqlDataProvider..ctor() +83

[TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation.]
   System.RuntimeTypeHandle.CreateInstance(RuntimeType type, Boolean publicOnly, Boolean noCheck, Boolean& canBeCached, RuntimeMethodHandle& ctor, Boolean& bNeedSecurityCheck) +0
   System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceSlow(Boolean publicOnly, Boolean fillCache) +103
   System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceImpl(Boolean publicOnly, Boolean skipVisibilityChecks, Boolean fillCache) +268
   System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type, Boolean nonPublic) +66
   DotNetNuke.Framework.Reflection.CreateObject(String ObjectProviderType, String ObjectProviderName, String ObjectNamespace, String ObjectAssemblyName, Boolean UseCache) +582
   DotNetNuke.Data.DataProvider.CreateProvider() +39
   DotNetNuke.Data.DataProvider..cctor() +13

[TypeInitializationException: The type initializer for 'DotNetNuke.Data.DataProvider' threw an exception.]
   DotNetNuke.Common.Globals.GetUpgradeStatus() +67
   DotNetNuke.Common.Global.CheckVersion() in C:\Documents and Settings\Dave\My Documents\Web Development\Sites\DNN\App_Code\Global.asax.vb:82
   DotNetNuke.Common.Global.Application_Start(Object Sender, EventArgs E) in C:\Documents and Settings\Dave\My Documents\Web Development\Sites\DNN\App_Code\Global.asax.vb:313

How do I reset my ACL file permissions?

Well Brian,

I tried that but "ASPNET" doesn't underline when I type it into the text box - there is a message saying the .Net framework is not installed if it does not underline (on that webapge you sent me) - however my helloworld other test site works just fine even with database tables displaying etc.  By the way ASPNET doesn't underline for my working test site either which proves that the apparent absence of the fraemwork is incorrect. So I'm still not sure where to go from here,

Any ideas?

Dave