Server object error 'ASP 0177 : 8000ffff'

I was assisting a customer who was struggling with this intermittent error. An iisreset would alleviate the problem temporarily only to resurface within few days again. This is the error details:

Server object error 'ASP 0177 : 8000ffff'
Server.CreateObject Failed
ShowReport.asp, line 36

This problem occurs if a website that you browse is an Active Server Pages (ASP) page that calls a .NET-managed component.
Note This .NET-managed component uses .NET interop functionality.

Here is how we fixed the issue:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK. (NOTE: Registry changes can impact your server severely. You need to test this on a Test server first and only to promote to Production after adequate testing)

  2. Locate and then click one of the following registry subkeys, depending on the version of Windows that is running on your computer. If your computer is running a 32-bit version of Windows, click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN\FeatureControl\FEATURE_IGNORE_ZONES_INITIALIZATION_FAILURE_KB945701

    Programs that are 32-bit and run on a 64-bit version of Windows operate in WOW64 mode. These programs access registry keys and values that are stored in a different registry subkey. If you are running 32-bit programs on a 64-bit version of Windows, click the following registry subkey:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN\FeatureControl\FEATURE_IGNORE_ZONES_INITIALIZATION_FAILURE_KB945701

    Note If the FEATURE_IGNORE_ZONES_INITIALIZATION_FAILURE_KB945701 subkey does not exist, you must manually create it.

  3. Right-click FEATURE_IGNORE_ZONES_INITIALIZATION_FAILURE_KB945701, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.

  4. Type w3wp.exe to name the new registry entry, and then press ENTER.

  5. Right-click w3wp.exe, and then click
    Modify.

  6. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.

  7. Exit Registry Editor.

  8. Reboot your server.