Autoplay Runs Regardless of Configuration

[Guest]

No matter how I configure Autoplay in the "Properties" for my DVD and CD-RW
drives, every time I insert a new disc, whether it is a DVD or CD, the
computer automatically runs the disc. It does not matter if I choose to be
prompted to choose an action or if I choose the option "Take no action;" the
disc still runs. What could be causing this disjunct between configuration
and action?

 

[Guest]

Open regedit, press Control-F (Find) and search for 'nodrivetypeautorun'

Change each instance to FF hex. (or just change the one for
HKEY_CURRENT_USER if you only want it to aply to a single account)

After a reboot, that will nail autorun completely, for both CDs and memory
sticks.

Usual warnings about care in registry-editing apply.

 

[Grand_Poobah]

--->

Open regedit, press Control-F (Find) and search for 'nodrivetypeautorun'

Change each instance to FF hex. (or just change the one for
HKEY_CURRENT_USER if you only want it to aply to a single account)

After a reboot, that will nail autorun completely, for both CDs and memory
sticks.

Usual warnings about care in registry-editing apply.

Antaeus's advice is very good, and it will completely kill the autoplay,
but a method that lets you allow autoplay when you want is to simply
hold down the LEFT Shift key when you insert the CD/DVD. This tells the
OS not to allow autorun/autoplay.

I don't know if this was extended from XP to Vista, but it works on
everything from Win95 upwards to XP.

GP

 

[Guest]

Holding the shift key does work on XP, but you have to hold it for a mighty
long time, especially with CDRW's which take a long time to initialise.

On 95-2k that wasn't an issue since only CDs with an autorun.inf produced
any kind of popup, which generally meant pressed discs. Now (and even more so
with Vista) it's anything vaguely round witha 'nole in it that produces
annoying popups.

 

[Grand_Poobah]

--->

Holding the shift key does work on XP, but you have to hold it for a mighty
long time, especially with CDRW's which take a long time to initialise.

On 95-2k that wasn't an issue since only CDs with an autorun.inf produced
any kind of popup, which generally meant pressed discs. Now (and even more so
with Vista) it's anything vaguely round witha 'nole in it that produces
annoying popups.

That's very true. But, since you're not doing anything else until the
disc initializes anyway no matter. It also lets the Op stop autoplay
especially if the Op doesn't want to mess with the Registry at all. One
should never venture there unless you are sure of what you are doing.

GP