Having problems running WatiN on Windows 7 with IE 8

Question

When I run any WatiN test on Windows 7 with IE8(note that all tests pass on Vista with IE8), the browser displays the first page but does not go any further. The following exception is displayed after a few seconds:

WatiN.Core.Exceptions.TimeoutException: Timeout while Internet Explorer state not complete

at WatiN.Core.UtilityClasses.TryFuncUntilTimeOut.ThrowTimeOutException(Exception lastException, String message) at WatiN.Core.UtilityClasses.TryFuncUntilTimeOut.HandleTimeOut() at WatiN.Core.UtilityClasses.TryFuncUntilTimeOut.Try(DoFunc1 func) at WatiN.Core.WaitForCompleteBase.WaitUntil(DoFunc1 waitWhile, BuildTimeOutExceptionMessage exceptionMessage) at WatiN.Core.Native.InternetExplorer.WaitForComplete.WaitWhileIEReadyStateNotComplete(IWebBrowser2 ie) at WatiN.Core.Native.InternetExplorer.IEWaitForComplete.DoWait() at WatiN.Core.DomContainer.WaitForComplete(IWait waitForComplete) at WatiN.Core.IE.WaitForComplete(Int32 waitForCompleteTimeOut) at WatiN.Core.DomContainer.WaitForComplete() at WatiN.Core.Browser.GoTo(Uri url) at WatiN.Core.IE.FinishInitialization(Uri uri) at WatiN.Core.IE.CreateNewIEAndGoToUri(Uri uri, IDialogHandler logonDialogHandler, Boolean createInNewProcess) at WatiN.Core.IE..ctor(String url) at CCS.iPS.ST.Tests.UIWithDBVerification.Tests.DCC_Offered_Completed_ThreeDS_And_Authorisation_Completed() in Tests.cs: line 18

Answer 1

Make sure you are running as an Administrator. Seems to be an issue where Watin can't access the DOM in IE unless the application is running with System Administrator privileges.