Not able to launch IE browser using Selenium2 (Webdriver) with Java

Question

It needs to set same Security level in all zones. To do that follow the steps below:

1. Open IE
2. Go to Tools -> Internet Options -> Security
3. Set all zones (Internet, Local intranet, Trusted sites, Restricted sites) to the same protected mode, enabled or disabled should not matter.

Finally, set Zoom level to 100% by right clicking on the gear located at the top right corner and enabling the status-bar. Default zoom level is now displayed at the lower right.

Well as the stack trace says, you would need to set the protected mode settings to same for all zones in IE. Read the why here : http://jimevansmusic.blogspot.in/2012/08/youre-doing-it-wrong-protected-mode-and.html

and a quick how to from the same link : "In IE, from the Tools menu (or the gear icon in the toolbar in later versions), select "Internet options." Go to the Security tab. At the bottom of the dialog for each zone, you should see a check box labeled "Enable Protected Mode." Set the value of the check box to the same value, either checked or unchecked, for each zone"

The following snippet of WebDriver Java code should work to launch IE. The code will ignore the setup of Protected mode settings for all zone in the IE browser.

DesiredCapabilities capabilities = DesiredCapabilities.internetExplorer();
capabilities.setCapability(InternetExplorerDriver.INTRODUCE_FLAKINESS_BY_IGNORING_SECURITY_DOMAINS, true);
File file = new File("D:\\Ripon Al Wasim\\IEDriverServer.exe");
System.setProperty("webdriver.ie.driver", file.getAbsolutePath());
WebDriver driver = new InternetExplorerDriver(capabilities);
driver.get("https://www.google.com/");

Download IEDriverServer and extract it into your desired location and set the absolute path (In my above example it was "D:\Ripon Al Wasim\IEDriverServer.exe")

Rather than using Absolute path for IEDriverServer.exe, its better to use relative path in accordance to the project.

        DesiredCapabilities capabilities = DesiredCapabilities.internetExplorer();
        capabilities.setCapability(InternetExplorerDriver.INTRODUCE_FLAKINESS_BY_IGNORING_SECURITY_DOMAINS, true);
        File fil = new File("iDrivers\\IEDriverServer.exe");
        System.setProperty("webdriver.ie.driver", fil.getAbsolutePath());
        WebDriver driver = new InternetExplorerDriver(capabilities);        
        driver.get("https://www.irctc.co.in");          

1. Go to IE->Tools->Internet Options.
2. Go to Security tab.
3. Either Enable/Disable the protected mode for all(Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites & Restricted Sites.)

Wanted to share the actual code as few might still be confused about how to implement it.This is for C# NUNIT implementation. You need to do this because your company might not allow you to change the default security settings for obvious reasons. Good luck!

InternetExplorerOptions options = new InternetExplorerOptions();
            options.IntroduceInstabilityByIgnoringProtectedModeSettings = true;
            options.IgnoreZoomLevel = true;
            driver = new
                InternetExplorerDriver("C:\\Users\\stdd\\Desktop\\SLL\\SLLAutomation" +
                "\\Clysis\\STGSearch\\STGClaSearch\\Driver\\", options);
            driver.Manage().Window.Maximize();