Fresh install of DNN 5.4.2 on Server 2003 64bit Standard Edition w/SP2 (not R2).  SQL Server 2005 64bit.  4Gb RAM.

The install was clean with no errors.

Site loaded fine, but I cannot install any Module or upload any files through the File Manager.

I can't even install or upload through the local server console so I know it's not a Network or Firewall issue.

The Site is running under the Network Service Identity which has read/write access to the site's folder structure and the ASP.Net Temporary Cache.

As soon as I specify the module or file to install or upload and click "Next" the site hangs.  No errors in the DNN Event Log.  In the Windows Event Viewer Application Log I get the following error.

Event Type:   Warning
Event Source:   ASP.NET 2.0.50727.0
Event Category:   Web Event
Event ID:   1309
Date:       6/28/2010
Time:       4:35:46 PM
User:       N/A
Computer:   xxx

Description:
Event code: 3001
Event message: The request has been aborted.
Event time: 6/28/2010 4:35:46 PM
Event time (UTC): 6/28/2010 8:35:46 PM
Event ID: 3a77986cc7584887a641fc3c0b078fb1
Event sequence: 61
Event occurrence: 1
Event detail code: 0

Application information:
 
    Application domain: /LM/W3SVC/117891778/Root-1-129222307097982122
    Trust level: Full
    Application Virtual Path: /
    Application Path: C:\Inetpub\SDINC\
    Machine name: xxx

Process information:
 
    Process ID: 4656
    Process name: w3wp.exe
    Account name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE

Exception information:
 
    Exception type: HttpException
    Exception message: Request timed out.

Request information:
 
    Request URL: http://xxx.xxx.com/Default.aspx?TabId=18&ctl=Install&rtab=18&portalid=0
    Request path: /Default.aspx
    User host address: xx.xxx.xxx.xx
    User: host
    Is authenticated: True
    Authentication Type: Forms
    Thread account name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE

Thread information:
 
    Thread ID: 5
    Thread account name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
    Is impersonating: False
    Stack trace:


Once this happens, IIS cannot be restarted and a reboot is required to return things to "normal"

I've installed DNN dozens of times on many servers and have never encountered this before.  I feel strongly that there is something wrong with the server, but I can't seem to find it.  I've uninstalled and reinstalled ASP.NET with no success.

Adjusting the Execution Timeout in the Web.config just makes the timeout take longer.

Does anyone have a clue as to why this would be happening?

Thanks for your response Chris.  I'm really stuck on this one.

I tried everything you suggested with no change.

And when I say "no change", I mean that when I completely removed the Network Service from having any direct file permissions to the folder structure there I still got the same error.  I would have expected the site to crash or otherwise behave badly, but it still runs.

Maybe I didn't understand what you meant by turning off the proper file permissions.

Yep.  Installed like a champ.  No errors in the Event Log and the module works