VSTS 2008 web test recorder bar does not show up

During this month, I have used VSTS 2008 web test to create more than 200 automated tests in my current Microsoft Project without any problem. The test automation runs very smoothly every day.

Today I used my personal PC in my house to create one simple automated test. Unluckily, the recorder bar didn’t show up. My PC environment is as follows:

Windows XP SP3, IE 7, VSTS 2008 SP1.

I finally found that my Microsoft Web Test Recorder was disabled. Only what I needed to do was launch IE 7, go to Internet Options/Programs/Manage Add-ons and enable Microsoft Web Test Recorder.

After that, the issue was fixed. I could create the simple web test successfully.