Hierarchy of config files
(aka Root Level Configuration Files)
ex.
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Config\machine.config
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Config\web.config
(this has default httpHandlers, ie, *.ashx files)

Machine config


Machine web.config

Parent's web.config

your web.config