KB20629: 'The request failed with HTTP status 403: Forbidden' error message appears when trying to access MicroStrategy Office from a MicroSoft Office Component or the MicroStrategy Office Configuration GUI after a new installation.

SYMPTOM
Users get the following error after installing Strategy Office and trying to access it through a MicroSoft Office program or the Strategy Office Configuration GUI from a client machine.

A connection to Web Services at http://<server name>/StrategyWS/MSTRWS.asmx could not be established: 'The request failed with HTTP status 403: Forbidden.'. Do you want to connect to a different Web Services URL?

• Paste the URL into an internet browser window. The page comes up fine from the client machine and the Web Services machine.
• Stopping the IIS and trying to access the URL gives a different error, the one shown in the image below.
  

•  
  A connection to Web Services at http://<server name>/StrategyWS/MSTRWS.asmx could not be established: `The underlying connection was closed: The remote name could not be resolved.`. Do you want to connect to a different Web Services URL?
  Starting the IIS back returns to original error message.

CAUSE
The StrategyWS virtual directory does not have the .aspx extension configured in the properties.
 
ACTION
Follow these instructions to resolve the issue.

• Access IIS on the Web Services machine.
• Right click on the StrategyWS virtual directory > Properties.
• Click on the 'Configuration' button in the Virtual Directory tab.
• Click on the 'Add' button, then 'Browse'.
• Find the aspnet_isapi.dll file located in C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\aspnet_isapi.dll and select it.
• Set '.aspx' as the extension.
• Limit to the following verbs: GET,HEAD,POST,DEBUG like shown in the image below.
  

• Click OK to accept changes.
• Restart IIS for the settings to take effect.