answer: you need to tell windows that iis has the permissions to create instances of the hmailserver com object. do this: 1) from the windows control panel, go to administrative tools 2) open up component services 3) expand component services folder 4) expand down to computers | my computer | dcom config 5) right click on hmailserver and select properties 6) select security tab 7) under launch and activation permissions, select customize and click edit 8) make sure your anonymous iis user has local lauch and local activation permissions set to allow. •working with windows 2003 server with iis6 •this method did not working with (vista iis7)