After publishing an project, error "MachineToApplication beyond application level" or "This error can be caused by a virtual directory not being configured as an application in IIS" appears.

1. In IIS, locate the website that is producing this error. Notice in this example, IIS displays a folder icon. This implies the files are a virtual directory and not an application.

2. Right-click on the folder and select convert to application
3. In the convert to application pop-up box, select OK. 

If the icon updates from a folder to a globe, the website is now an application, and the error should no longer appear.