TechTips - How to Install IIS 7 on Vista and Windows 7

This article will give you detailed instructions on how to install IIS 7 (7.5 for Windows 7) on your Vista or 7 Windows installation. I installed IIS 7.5 on my Windows Ultimate box just because I was curious about what is new in IIS 7.5 and how it works. I also wanted to run some different tests on my machine using some IIS 7.5 tools, so my use was purely experimental. These instructions are just for a basic install with default settings for IIS 7 and 7.5.

First thing you should know is that not all versions of Vista or Windows 7 support all the functions of IIS 7 and 7.5, there are some limitations if you have the Home or Basic versions of either Operating System. So I suggest before you continue installing the IIS 7 services you check out these two pages that give details about what is and isn't supported for each version of the Windows Vista and 7 OS for IIS 7 and 7.5.

Windows Vista IIS 7 Specifications

Windows 7 IIS 7.5 Specifications

I will warn you that the Home and Basic editions for Vista and Windows 7 are pretty limited when it comes to running IIS and what functionality you will be able to use. In my mind it would be a waste of time to install IIS on anything less than Ultimate/Business/Enterprise editions; with the lower versions you won't get any of the powerful functionality.

So now that you know the possible limitations due to each OS, let's get to the installation.

Click Start

Click Control Panel

Click Classic View (Upper left hand corner)

Double-Click Programs and Features

Click Turn Windows features on or off link (Upper left hand corner)

Expand the IIS Features by clicking the +

Click Web Management Tools Check Box

Click World Wide Web Services + (to expand it)

Click each option under WWW + and check every option you want to install (I installed most options)

Click OK (once you have all options you want to install checked)

Next you will see the installation bar and it will progress through the install of all the IIS options you just choose. When the installation finishes you are done with the Control Panel window and can close it. Now you have IIS 7 or 7.5 installed on your machine and we need to test it to see if it is working. To dot his simply do the following:

Open IE or Firefox (or your web browser of choice)

Type in the URL http://localhost

Hit enter

The IIS 7 home page should show up

If the website showed up you have successfully installed IIS and now can go to the manager portion of IIS to configure it however you see fit. To get to the configuration manager do the following:

Click Start

Click Control Panel

Double-Click Administrative Tools

Double-Click IIS

Another quicker method is to:

Click Start

In the Start Search text box type inetmgr

Hit Enter (IIS management console will start)

Now you are done, you have tested your IIS install and are ready to manage the settings. You can use IIS for whatever purpose you need it for. Hope this helps you install and use IIS 7 on Vista and IIS 7.5 on Windows 7.