Resolving 32-bit Application Error on 64-bit OS

Overview

• Error: "An attempt was made to load the program with an incorrect format"
• Cause: 32-bit application trying to run on a 64-bit OS without proper configuration

Solutions

Enabling 32-bit Application on IIS

1. Open IIS: Navigate to your IIS installation.
2. Select Application Pool:
   • Go to your website's application pool (e.g., DefaultAppPool).
   • Right-click and select Advanced Settings.
3. Enable 32-bit Applications:
   • Under the General tab, find Enable 32-bit Applications.
   • Change the status from False to True.
   • Click OK.

Changing Target Platform of the Application

1. Open Your Web Application:
   • Right-click on the project icon and select Properties.
2. Configure Build Settings:
   • Go to the Build tab.
   • In the Configuration section, select Release if that's your publishing configuration.
   • Under Platform target, choose x86 from the Any CPU dropdown.
3. Save and Publish:
   • Save the settings.
   • Re-publish the website.

Conclusion

• Two main methods to resolve the error:
  1. Enabling 32-bit application on IIS
  2. Changing the target platform of the application to x86

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