Making AutoRun Work

prospero · 10 Oct 2011

I've had a Dickens of a job trying to get AutoRun to work on a DVD containing HTML files.
I've written various versions of AutoRun.INF ("Open=..."; Shellexecute=...") and so on.
In desperation I built a Start.exe file in Flash and that worked, but I need my client to have the disk run automatically.

In desperation I searched the web and eventually found this:

How to Enable / Disable Autorun for a Drive (using Registry) (SamLogic CD-Menu Creator - Article)

Excellent - it worked!

I hope this might help others.

FliGi7 · 10 Oct 2011

As long as you're aware that AutoRun was disabled for security reasons and re-enabling it opens up the client's computer to propagation of USB drive infections. I would send them two .reg files they can execute, one to enable AutoRun before doing whatever you have to do that requires it, and the other to disable it once you're done. Or, you could avoid all of this and educate them on how to go in and run the program from the disc.

prospero · 11 Oct 2011

FliGi7 said:

As long as you're aware that AutoRun was disabled for security reasons and re-enabling it opens up the client's computer to propagation of USB drive infections. I would send them two .reg files they can execute, one to enable AutoRun before doing whatever you have to do that requires it, and the other to disable it once you're done. Or, you could avoid all of this and educate them on how to go in and run the program from the disc.

Your point is well taken. The problem is some clients expect the disk to behave like a video DVD; pop it in the slot and away you go. I wouldn't want them fiddling with the registry though - tears before bedtime *lol*