Really a long thread.
Btw, just a little correction for your future reference - ASP.NET does not run as CGI, but ISAPI filter - one step earlier in the execution chain.
In addition to having faster execution performance, this enables the .NET runtime to have integrated control of various IIS behavior using web.config when your web application is loaded. Another advantage is enabling users uploading 1GB file won't eat up
your memory - the runtime will save them chunk-by-chunk for you before handling the control back to your code.
Since PHP is mentioned in the thread, I'll add that PHP is able to be installed as either ISAPI filter or (Fast)CGI application.
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Btw, regarding FP extension, I remember they did provide download to "web deploy tool (support deployment via FP2000 extension)" in
Web Platform Installer . Not sure if they still provide that or whether it'll install on Win7 though.