ASP.NET error: Unrecognized configuration section 'connectionStrings'

I've run into this ASP.NET 1.1 error countless times and at least one of the reasons it occurs is that the IIS virtual directory is set to use the 1.1.4322 version of the .NET framework instead of 2.0. There are a few ways to correct this problem:

From the command line:

from:

c:\windows\Microsoft.NET\framework\v2.0.50727

aspnet_regiis -s w3svc/1/root/<virt_dir>

Where <virt_dir> indicates the name of the virtual directory

Using the MMC snap-in for IIS:

1. From the Start menu select Administrative Tools|Internet Information Services (refer to "Select Taskbar and Start Menu" from this post for information how to enable this menu item)
   
2. Open up the treeview to the virtual directory where the error message occurs
   
3. Right click the virtual directory and select properties
   
4. Click the ASP.NET tab
   
5. Using the drop down change ASP.NET Version to 2.0.50727

Update: Tweaked the font size of the above command-line to fix rendering in IE.