Windows 7: AutoPlay - Enable or Disable

   Information

This will show you how to enable or disable AutoPlay for either all drives or CD/DVD and removable media drives for users in Windows 7 and Vista.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

When a CD/DVD disc is inserted or a USB drive is connected to your system, Windows looks in the root directory of the new disc or drive for a file named autorun.inf. If found, Windows executes the instructions (keys) in that file.

For more about: Autorun vs Autoplay – What’s the Difference?

In Windows 7, Vista, and XP, two important changes were made to help improve security:

NOTE: For more on this, see: AutoRun changes in Windows 7 - Security Research & Defense - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

1. AutoPlay will no longer support the AutoRun functionality for non-optical removable media. In other words, AutoPlay will still work for CD/DVDs but it will no longer work for USB drives. For example, if an infected USB drive is inserted on a machine then the AutoRun task will not be displayed. This will block the increasing social engineer threat highlighted in the SIR. The dialogs below highlight the difference that users will see after this change. Before the change, the malware is leveraging AutoRun (box in red) to confuse the user. After the change, AutoRun will no longer work, so the AutoPlay options are safe.
2. A dialog change was done to clarify that the program being executed is running from external media.

By default in Windows 7, Vista, and XP now, the only [Autorun] keys available for USB/removable drives are below. The rest of the keys are ignored.

• label - This key is responsible for displaying a custom name (label) for a CD/DVD or USB drive in Computer when a CD/DVD is inserted or a USB drive is connected.
• icon - This key is responsible for displaying a custom icon for a CD/DVD or USB drive in Computer when a CD/DVD is inserted or a USB drive is connected.

OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable AutoPlay using a REG File Download

1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Enable AutoPlay
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Turn On AutoPlay if not already, and check to see if you wanted to enable AutoPlay for non-volume devices as well.

B) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Enable_AutoPlay.reg

C) Go to step 5.

3. To Disable AutoPlay for All Drives

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Disable_AutoPlay_for_All_Drives.reg

B) Go to step 5.

4. To Disable AutoPlay Only for CD/DVD and Removable Media Drives

A) Turn On AutoPlay if not already, and check to see if you wanted to enable AutoPlay for non-volume devices as well.

B) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Disable_AutoPlay_for_Removable_Media_Drives.reg

C) Go to step 5.

5. Save the .reg file to the desktop.

6. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

7. Click on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

9. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to fully apply.

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable AutoPlay in the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy to be applied.

2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and AutoPlay Policies. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Turn off Autoplay and click on Edit. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5, 6, or 7 below for what you would like to do.

5. To Enable AutoPlay

A) Turn On AutoPlay if not already, and check to see if you wanted to enable AutoPlay for non-volume devices as well.

B) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 8)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.

C) Go to step 8.

6. To Disable AutoPlay for All Drives

A) Select (dot) Enabled, and select All drives in the "Options" drop down menu. (see screenshot below step 8)

B) Go to step 8.

7. To Disable AutoPlay Only for CD/DVD and Removable Media Drives

A) Turn On AutoPlay if not already, and check to see if you wanted to enable AutoPlay for non-volume devices as well.

B) Select (dot) Enabled, and select CD-ROM and removable media drives in the "Options" drop down menu.(see screenshot below step 8)

C) Go to step 8.

8. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)

9. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.