Cause

The most likely cause is insufficient permissions to execute system calls in the web server environment.

Fix

You need to give the Internet Guest Account (a.k.a. IUSR_MachineName or simply IUSR) read and execute permission to the command shell program, cmd.exe. Typically, permission to this file is explicitly denied as a security measure.

  1. Open Windows Explorer and browse to the c:\windows\system32 or c:\winnt\system32 directory.
  2. Right-click on cmd.exe, and select Properties....
  3. Click the Security tab. See image below.

    windows xp file properties security tab iusr read permission.png

  4. If Internet Guest Account is not already listed, then click Add, then Advanced..., then Find Now.
  5. Scroll down to and select IUSR_MachineName, where MachineName is the name of your computer.
  6. Click OK twice to return to the Security tab.
  7. Select Internet Guest Account and then click the box under Allow for Read & Execute.
  8. Click OK.