ASP.NET: dollar sign ($) on the page changed to not displayable character

[Norman Yuan]

System:

ASP.NET app, .NET 1.1, developed on VS.NET2003. Windows Server 2003 Std.
with SP1, IIS6.0

Problem:

The app is a invoicing system, a lot of numbers are displayed as currency,
like $200.00. These numbers are formated in the code using either {0:C}, or
..ToString("C"). Occasionally, after copying the modified dlls in Bin folder
and *.aspx file to the server, the "$" became a unrecognizeable character.
Stop and restart IIS does not cure it. Only reboot the server computer gets
the "$" sign back. If it only happens very occasionally, it would be fine.
But recently the thing is getting worse: $ simply keeps getting lost and a
small square is displayed instead.

I am pretty sure it is not browser problem on the client end. Because all
users see the ame thing ($ gone and back after server rebooting). The
ASP.NET app is developed on my very similar system (Win2003 Server, but
Enterprise edition, with SP1, IIS6.0, .NET1.1) and during my test on my
developing box, it never happened. I compared the both computer for Reginal
Settings, they are identical.

Searching MS KB and googling did not get me useful information.

Did someone run into this issue or know something about it?

 

[Norman Yuan]

Sorry, clicked wrong NG.

 

[TGV]

Greetings,

We are having a similar problem with an identical system. Instead of a
box appearing in place of the "$", the international currency symbol is
show in its place. This happens randomly. I have a case open with
Microsoft. If you find a resolution to this problem, please let me
know; I will do the same.

Thanks.
Tom

 

[Norman Yuan]

No solution yet. It seems that if the computer's work load is heavy (namely,
IIS and SQL Server on the same old box, P3-800 and 512MB), it would happen.
Then if the work load is gone (say during lunch break, or the next moring,
the "$" would come back.

It never happened on my developing box (P4 3GHz and 1GB). Since we are
buying a new server for it, I'll see what happens (in middle of Jan, next
year).

 

[TGV]

Norman,

With some help from Sudeep Gopalakrishnan at Microsoft, it appears that
we were able to resolve this problem with the following KBs:

HOW TO: Set Culture Information in an ASP.NET Application Without Code
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326943

HOW TO: Set Current Culture Programmatically in an ASP.NET Application
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=306162

Please let me know if this helps.
Tom