Before troubleshooting, ensure you've properly enabled the FTP Server feature:

1. Open "Turn Windows features on or off"
2. Expand "Internet Information Services"
3. Check "FTP Server" and all sub-items
4. Click OK and wait for installation

After enabling the feature, verify the service is running:

sc query FTPSVC
# Should show STATE: 4 RUNNING

The "Not connected" error typically occurs due to:

• Firewall blocking port 21
• FTP service not properly configured
• Missing IIS configuration
• Incorrect authentication settings

Here's how to properly configure your FTP server:

1. Create FTP Site in IIS

# Open IIS Manager
# Right-click "Sites" → "Add FTP Site"
# Specify site name and physical path
# Binding: All Unassigned, port 21
# SSL: No SSL
# Authentication: Basic
# Authorization: All users, Read/Write

2. Configure Windows Firewall

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="FTP Server" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=21

3. Test Connection Properly

Use this sequence instead of direct ls command:

ftp localhost
# At prompt:
user anonymous
pass (just press enter)
ls

For production environments, consider these security measures:

# Enable SSL in IIS FTP settings
# Configure IP restrictions
# Set up proper user permissions
# Change default port (requires registry edit)

These commands help diagnose FTP issues:

netstat -ano | findstr :21  # Check if port is listening
telnet localhost 21        # Test basic connectivity
iisreset /restart          # Restart IIS services

If Windows built-in FTP proves problematic, consider:

• FileZilla Server (free open-source)
• Cerberus FTP (commercial)
• VSFTPD (if using WSL)

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FTP Server Setup and Connection Issues in Windows 7

First, let's verify you've completed the basic setup correctly:

1. Turn on FTP Server feature:
   - Control Panel -> Programs -> Turn Windows features on or off
   - Enable: Internet Information Services -> FTP Server
2. The FTP service should be running
   - Check in Services.msc (FTP Publishing Service)
   - Default port 21 should be listening

The "Not connected" error typically appears due to these scenarios:

• Firewall blocking port 21
• IIS configuration issues
• Anonymous authentication not enabled
• Local loopback restrictions

1. Verify Port Availability

Run this command to check if port 21 is listening:

netstat -ano | findstr :21

2. Configure Windows Firewall

Create an inbound rule for FTP:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="FTP Server" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=21

3. IIS Manager Configuration

Essential settings to check:

- Right-click your FTP site -> FTP Firewall Support
  - Set external IP (if applicable)
- FTP Authentication
  - Enable Anonymous Authentication
- FTP Authorization Rules
  - Add All Users with Read/Write permissions

Use PowerShell for better diagnostics:

Test-NetConnection -ComputerName localhost -Port 21

Alternative testing method with FTP commands:

$ ftp
ftp> open localhost
Connected to localhost.
220 Microsoft FTP Service
User (localhost:(none)): anonymous
331 Anonymous access allowed
ftp> ls
200 PORT command successful
150 Opening ASCII mode data connection

If still not working, enable FTP logging:

1. In IIS Manager:
   - Select FTP site -> FTP Logging
   - Enable and specify log directory
2. Examine log files for connection attempts
3. Common errors to look for:
   - 530 (authentication failed)
   - 425 (firewall blocking)

For developers needing scriptable solutions:

# PowerShell FTP upload example
$webclient = New-Object System.Net.WebClient
$webclient.Credentials = New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential("anonymous","")
$webclient.UploadFile("ftp://localhost/test.txt", "PUT", "C:\localfile.txt")

For development purposes, consider these alternatives:

• FileZilla Server (open source alternative)
• Windows Subsystem for Linux with vsftpd
• Cloud-based FTP services for testing