Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: "Unable to start debugging on the web server" MSVSMON.EXE failed to start error in Visual Studio 2010

Unable to start debugging on the web server MSVSMON.EXE failed to start error in Visual Studio 2010

Quick Answer: Try reinstalling VS2010 with the latest updates, and ensure that the IIS settings are correct.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. 🚀 How to Resolve This Issue
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The error 'Unable to start debugging on the web server. MSVSMON.EXE failed to start' affects users of Visual Studio 2010 who are trying to debug IIS sites on Windows 7 64-bit. This issue is frustrating because it prevents developers from testing and debugging their applications, leading to delays in project completion.

This guide aims to provide a step-by-step solution to resolve this error, helping developers overcome the challenges of debugging IIS sites with Visual Studio 2010.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary cause of this error is a corrupted or missing file required for MSVSMON.EXE to start. This can occur due to improper installation, corruption during upgrade, or removal of the file during uninstallation.
  • Another possible cause is a conflict between Visual Studio 2010 and IIS, which may be resolved by updating or reinstalling one or both applications.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Repairing MSVSMON.EXE

  1. Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. To do this, right-click on the Start button and select 'Command Prompt (Admin)'.
  2. Step 2: Type the command `msvsmon.exe /r` to repair the MSVSMON.EXE file. This will attempt to fix any corrupted files and restore the necessary configuration.
  3. Step 3: If the above step fails, try using the `msvsmon.exe /c` command to clean up any remaining issues.

Reinstalling Visual Studio 2010

  1. Step 1: Open the Add or Remove Programs control panel and uninstall Visual Studio 2010. Make sure to remove all components, including tools and frameworks.
  2. Step 2: Run the Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Uninstall Utility to ensure all files are removed from your system.
  3. Step 3: Reinstall Visual Studio 2010 from scratch, making sure to select all options during installation.

💡 Conclusion

By following these steps, users should be able to resolve the 'Unable to start debugging on the web server' error in Visual Studio 2010. If the issue persists after attempting both methods, it may be necessary to seek further assistance from Microsoft support or a qualified IT professional.

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