I finally got DNN 4.8.4 to install. It gives several completely erroneous errors on that -- first that the site is not available, then that it doesn't have permission to access web.config. These errors were wrong, of course, and after I tried hitting the URL 50 times or so -- with no change in configuration -- it finally ran and created the database.

Then it tells me to click here to go to the portal, and I get this 403 error.

I have tried everything listed here and everything I have found on every other page that came up in Google when I searched for this. I even tried giving EVERYONE Full Control over the entire directory. (Yeah, I know, that is asking for a hacker to mess with it but I only did it for a minute, just to prove something.)

I still get HTTP Error 403 - Forbidden.

So what is going on? Does anyone have a clue?

Oh great. I posted a note to this thread. It shows up in the list of threads as if it was posted but the note doesn't actually appear when the thread is viewed.

What is going on?

It is indeed disturbing that this error seems to have persisted for years with DNN installs, and there is as yet no definitive answer. I installed DNN 4.9.2 with no errors or warnings on my XP pro laptop following directions found from Mitch Sellers, Chris Cant, bestwebsites, webwizguide and of course, DNN forums and two text books. I have changed the users to and from anon several times (different advice found when googled error message). I am not familiar with IIS, so I don't know where to change EVERYONE to full control (not that I want to). I don't know where to find if the /install re-direct exists. This is exhausting, as I just want to build DNN sites! Please help!