How To: Install ColdFusion on IIS 7 in Windows and Vista. (No more 500 errors!)

After much head scratching I finally got ColdFusion working on my Windows 7 computer.   I've also done this process on windows Vista so I know it works for both Operating Systems.   If you install IIS 7 with its default options on 7/Vista and run the ColdFusion 8 or ColdFusion 9 installer you will get a funny little 500 server error when the installer tries to run the post-installation scripts on your server.

The solution is very simple, all you have to do is enable CGI and ISAPI in IIS!  The following instructions apply to Windows 7 however they are very similar in Vista.

1. Open Control Panel -> Programs
2. Select "Turn Windows features on or off"
3. If "Internet Information Services" is not already selected make sure you select it.
4. Expand the "Internet Information Services" Node
5. Expand the "World Wide Web Services" Node
6. Expand the "Application Development Features" Node
7. Check "CGI", "ISAPI Extentions", and "ISAPI Filters"
8. Hit "OK"
9. If you have the ColdFusion post-installation screen still open in your browser "refresh" it.
10. If you don't still have the screen open re-install ColdFusion and this time the post-installation script should run just fine.