Windows 7: Autorun Doesn't Work; External Drive Always Pops Up

Something is wrong with the Autoplay options in Windows 7 Home 64-bit, it seems.
(Brand new computer, one week old.)

In Autoplay, if under "software and games" I select "install or run program from your media", (and "Use Autoplay for all media and devices" is NOT checked), inserting a software disc in the dvd drive with an .inf file will NOT start the disc/autorun. The disc will only autorun if all media and devices checkbox is checked.

The additional problem is this: if that box is checked, whenever I turn on my computer, the "what do you want to do" choice box pops up for my external hard drive! What an annoyance. I don't want to be asked what I want to do with the external hard drive each time I boot up.

Lastly, at the bottom of the Autoplay setting page is a section entitled "Devices that connect to your computer will be listed here." There is NOTHING listed there.... not my thumb drive, not my external hard drive.

So I would appreciate answers to these three issues:
(1) Autorun won't work when just software/games is set to install or run
(2) If Autoplay is set for all media and devices I keep being asked what I want to do with my external hard drive everytime I boot up (there is no "do nothing" option that can be saved)
(3) Why no attached devices are listed in the section of the autoplay page where they should be listed.

Whewww. thanks,

Edgar