Multisite 404 & IIS Screen

So …

I am running Windows 2012 R2, IIS7, MySQL 5.7 – got multiple WP sites running all without issue.

Installed WP 5.1.1 completely clean and got this clean wordpress up and running no probs.

Added this line to WP-CONFIG

/* Multisite */
define('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true);

All good – was able to set up MultiSite opted for subdomain.

Added Wildcard DNS into Zone file for the domain set the IP in the wildcard tot the same IP as the domain (parent). All fine so far …

Added the following to WP-CONFIG

define('MULTISITE', true);
define('SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false);
define('DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'www.mortgageslocal.co.uk');
define('PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/');
define('SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1);
define('BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1);

and added the following to web.config

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<configuration>
    <system.webServer>
        <rewrite>
            <rules>
                <rule name="WordPress Rule 1" stopProcessing="true">
                    <match url="^index\.php$" ignoreCase="false" />
                    <action type="None" />
                </rule>
                <rule name="WordPress Rule 2" stopProcessing="true">
                    <match url="^wp-admin$" ignoreCase="false" />
                    <action type="Redirect" url="wp-admin/" redirectType="Permanent" />
                </rule>
                <rule name="WordPress Rule 3" stopProcessing="true">
                    <match url="^" ignoreCase="false" />
                    <conditions logicalGrouping="MatchAny">
                        <add input="{REQUEST_FILENAME}" matchType="IsFile" ignoreCase="false" />
                        <add input="{REQUEST_FILENAME}" matchType="IsDirectory" ignoreCase="false" />
                    </conditions>
                    <action type="None" />
                </rule>
                <rule name="WordPress Rule 4" stopProcessing="true">
                <match url="^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(wp-(content|admin|includes).*)" ignoreCase="false" />
                <action type="Rewrite" url="{R:2}" />
            </rule>
            <rule name="WordPress Rule 5" stopProcessing="true">
                <match url="^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(.*\.php)$" ignoreCase="false" />
                <action type="Rewrite" url="{R:3}" />
            </rule>
                <rule name="WordPress Rule 6" stopProcessing="true">
                    <match url="." ignoreCase="false" />
                    <action type="Rewrite" url="index.php" />
                </rule>
            </rules>
        </rewrite>
    </system.webServer>
</configuration>

Logged in to the new ‘network enabled’ site and created a new network site with the subdomain ‘testing’ so url would be

[ redundant link removed ]

All created correctly and the new subset is now appearing.

However …

When I click VISIT on the new subsite – it takes me to an IIS Holding Screen (you know the default blue one provided for localhost on WinServers).

If click on DASHBOARD for the new subsite I get a 404 Not Found Error.

I’ve spent the last 4 hours reading and trying different things. I’ve even scratched the whole installation and the database and started all over again and I get the same issue every time.

Everything working, its creating the subsite – but it won’t load it (IIS Blue Screen) and it won’t go to the dashboard for that site (404 Error)

I can get to the NETWORK dashboard and I can get to the PRIMARY SITE dashboard no issues – I can create posts on the PRIMARY SITE etc – but its just the subsites.

Please help – its driving me nuts!

The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]