Windows 7 IIS 7.5 401.3 Unauthorized

Today I'm looking at IIS in Windows 7 for the first time. I made a new virtual directory and pointed it to a newly-created folder under My Documents, and then created an index.htm file containing nothing but

Hello World

In Internet Explorer on that same machine, I tried to go to http://localhost/myvirdir and got an error:

HTTP Error 401.3 - Unauthorized

You do not have permission to view this directory or page because of the access control list (ACL) configuration or encryption settings for this resource on the Web server.

Okay, permissions. My fault for not pointing my virtual directory to a folder under c:\inetpub\wwwroot, I figure. But I wanted to make it work with a folder under My Documents, so I'll REALLY know what exact permissions are required.

I tried sharing to folder with different combinations of specific users. Here's what didn't work:

-- just NETWORK SERVICE
-- just IIS_IUSRS
-- just DefaultAppPool
-- just SYSTEM
-- combinations of those

"Everyone" worked, but that's no answer.

Finally I found a website suggesting IIS_IUSRS plus Authenticated Users. That worked.

In fact, Authenticated Users all by itself worked, too. For now, I'm sticking with that. It bothers me that I don't know what particular authenticated user needs access. Also, that I haven't found a way, even through Manage Local Users and Groups, to see a list of all the built-in users and groups in Windows 7.

Oh, I did try looking at c:\inetpub\wwwroot and copying the share permissions that were visible for that folder -- but duplicating that didn't work either.

Authenticated Users seems safe enough. Whatever.

I use Wikipedia.

I use it a lot. Like today, for example, when I was curious about how the double-switch works, in baseball.

So after I read the article which Explained It All For Me, I clicked the link in the header and read the plea for donations. And I donated.

I don't donate often, even for good causes, but Wikipedia has made my life easier, and I'm grateful.

Open in New Window Size

It can drive me crazy, how sometimes you choose the option to open a link in a new window, in Internet Explorer, and the new window isn't the size you want.

I was dealing with that just a few minutes ago, because I had a list of links open in one window, and I was one-by-one right-clicking them and choosing Open in New Window.

Here's how I solve the problem. (I still have Internet Explorer 6.)

1. If the source window is maximized, restore it to its sizable state. You can do this by double-clicking the title bar, for example.

2. Now, make this window be the size you that want new windows to be. Position it where you want new windows to be positioned.

3. Maximize the window. Restore it again, and notice how the size and position are as you left them. Re-maximize it.

4. Now, right-click a link and choose Open in New Window. It opens in the position that you set, and in the size that you set.