The route URL cannot start with a '/' or '~' character and it cannot contain a '?' character.
Parameter name: routeUrl Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.ArgumentException: The route URL cannot start with a '/' or '~' character and it cannot contain a '?' character.
Parameter name: routeUrl

Source Error:

Stack Trace:

[ArgumentException: The route URL cannot start with a '/' or '~' character and it cannot contain a '?' character.
Parameter name: routeUrl]
   System.Web.Routing.RouteParser.Parse(String routeUrl) +3990433
   System.Web.Routing.Route..ctor(String url, IRouteHandler routeHandler) +28
   System.Web.Mvc.RouteCollectionExtensions.MapRoute(RouteCollection routes, String name, String url, Object defaults, Object constraints, String[] namespaces) +90
   Umbraco.Web.WebBootManager.CreateRoutes() +240
   Umbraco.Web.WebBootManager.Complete(Action`1 afterComplete) +20

[HttpException (0x80004005): The route URL cannot start with a '/' or '~' character and it cannot contain a '?' character.
Parameter name: routeUrl]
   System.Web.HttpApplicationFactory.EnsureAppStartCalledForIntegratedMode(HttpContext context, HttpApplication app) +12864673
   System.Web.HttpApplication.RegisterEventSubscriptionsWithIIS(IntPtr appContext, HttpContext context, MethodInfo[] handlers) +175
   System.Web.HttpApplication.InitSpecial(HttpApplicationState state, MethodInfo[] handlers, IntPtr appContext, HttpContext context) +304
   System.Web.HttpApplicationFactory.GetSpecialApplicationInstance(IntPtr appContext, HttpContext context) +404
   System.Web.Hosting.PipelineRuntime.InitializeApplication(IntPtr appContext) +475

[HttpException (0x80004005): The route URL cannot start with a '/' or '~' character and it cannot contain a '?' character.
Parameter name: routeUrl]
   System.Web.HttpRuntime.FirstRequestInit(HttpContext context) +12881540
   System.Web.HttpRuntime.EnsureFirstRequestInit(HttpContext context) +159
   System.Web.HttpRuntime.ProcessRequestNotificationPrivate(IIS7WorkerRequest wr, HttpContext context) +12722601

Any Idea?

We are experiencing the exact same error on Windows Server 2008, IIS 7.5. Unfortunately this is our first encounter with Umbraco so we haven't managed to resolve the issue yet but I will update this thread if we find a solution.

thanks!

Xavi, Are you calling your site 'umbraco'. I have found that if you call your site 'umbraco' this error occurs but if you call it something else e.g. 'umbraco6' it works.

The above worked for me.

I just wanted to add that the above also fixed the problem for me

its fixed for me also when digit 6 was added

Guy's, I too am experiencing this problem...

Where is the best place to go to change the name... Are there some step-by-step instructions?

Thanks

Ok.... So noone replied.  I kept poking around at this problem and finally did the following:

Opened IIS Manager

Removed the Umbraco site (Right Click On Umbraco - Choose Remove from the Context Menu).

Moved my Cursor Back up to the Sites Entry in the IIS tree structure.

Right Click on Sites - Choose Add New Site from the Context Menu.

Renamed my Site ( I actually reentered the original name.) -

Right Click again on the newly created Umbtaco Site name - Select Manage Web Site -> Browse

It opened the Install page and allowed me to continue with the Installation SetUp.

This site helped: http://peterkellner.net/2010/07/10/installing-umbraco-to-win7-step-by-step/

is working on a reply...