Autorun.inf Files - Completely Block

How to Completely Block and Disable Autorun.inf Files in Windows​

   Information

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?

Since 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 - MSRC

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 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.

This tutorial will allow you to completely block and disable all keys in autorun.inf files from being able to execute from any location and on any drive. This will affect all users on your XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 computer.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to apply this tutorial.

   Note

If autorun.inf files are set to be blocked below, then the installation startup process of software from any autorunning installation CD/DVD will no longer be automatic. It will be necessary to view the CD/DVD's autorun.inf file, and then execute the appropriate EXE install file manually.

EXAMPLE: Autorun.inf Files Unblocked and Blocked
NOTE: This example is with the icon key.




Here's How:1. To Completely Block and Disable Autorun.inf FilesA) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.Block_Autorun.inf_Files.reg


Download




2. To Unblock Autorun.inf Files Back to Default
NOTE: This is the default setting to allow the icon and label keys to work again for autorun.inf files.A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.Unblock_Autorun.inf_Files.reg


Download




3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

5. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

6. Restart the computer to fully apply.

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Turn AutoPlay On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Turn AutoPlay On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable AutoPlay for Drives in Vista, Widows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Change a Drive Icon in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Rename a Drive in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Enable or Disable AutoPlay for Non-volume Devices in Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[it2009yashar]

Thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Yashar.

 

[StalkeR]

Thank you Brink! Great tutorial!

 

[Brink]

Thank you Boshko.

 

[Vertex]

Good tutorial as usual from you, Brink.

Some malware that infect USB flashdrives include an Autorun.inf file that makes the flashdrive's icon go wrong as well as help run or initialize the malware to do its thing. Will blocking Autorun.inf files prevent this from happening as well??

 

[Brink]

Hello Vertex,

The tutorial will allow you to block the icon and label autorun items from running, but the other autorun items are already blocked by default.

 

[kamoteprotocol]

thanks for the reg file ...

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Kamoteprotocol, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[Neutron16]

"It is important to note that this applies to any autorun.inf in any location and on any drive."

"This workaround have the drawback is that installation of software from an autorunning install CD or DVD is no longer automatic. It will be necessary to view the CD's autorun.inf file and then execute the appropriate install program manually."

 

[Brink]

Hello Neutron,

Duly noted and added. Thank you.

 

[cybercontroler]

Hello, please does it will work on x64 or will I need do it on Wow6432Node key also?
regards

 

[Brink]

Hello Cybercontroler,

This works as is on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7. Unless the tutorial says otherwise, they will usually all work on both.

 

[cybercontroler]

cool thanks Friend

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome mate.

 

[romiadam]

Sorry, This file Block_Autorun.inf_Files.reg does not works for me. After merging this file to registry, I restarted PC. When I pluged in USB modem in to my laptop Win7 Home Premium 32bit, autoroun.inf starts setup wizard. ??? I checked the all three entries in registry, they were there. So where is the problem? Why autorun.inf still running on the USB stick?

 

[Brink]

Hello Romiadam, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm not sure since this is USB "modem" and not a drive. Did you already have the drivers installed that may have trigged the setup wizard when the USB modem was connected the first time? What is the brand and model number of it?

 

[romiadam]

I did a more examinaion about this issue. Here is good article about Autorun/Autoplay
Autorun vs Autoplay – What’s the Difference?

I find out, that if I enable Autoplay in Control panel, autorun works on every device. If I disable Autoplay in Control panel, autorun is disabled for any device (CD, ext. HDD, USB Mass Storage, Phone configured as Mass Storage) except my USB mobile broadband stick.
My USB mobile broadband stick ignore this setting and it runs anyway.
Om "My computer" window it is recognized as "CD Drive (I 3 Connect" as CDFS.
1. If on my PC is not installed Conection manager aplication, autorun runs setup wizard for Connection manager aplication. (even autoplay is disabled in control panel)
2. If on my PC is installed Conection manager aplication, autorun runs Connection manager aplication and I am ready connect to internet. (even autoplay is disabled in control panel)

Why I need to disable autorun.
I want to unlock E5830 modem. When I connect it to PC, autorun runs connection manager or setup wizard (depend if it is instaled or not) regardless of Autoplay setting. The USB COM port (COM57) is used by connection manager, so I can not establish connection between modem unlocker program and USB modem. When I close connection manager I can establish connection between modem unlocker program and USB modem. Then I run unlock process, but at the end of the unlocking process it requires modem reset (turn OFF and ON). At the end of the unlocking process, when the modem is turned ON, windows detects the modem device (as it would be pluged in) and autorun runs again connection manager (or setup wizard), what blocks COM57 port for modem unlocker program, unlocker program can not reestablish connection and unlocking process finishes with error. This happened to me with two different unlocker program. Both ofthem need modem reset. And that makes me trouble.

I wilcome any advices, how to solve it issue. Thanks in afvance.

 

[Brink]

Romiadam,

You may be better off posting this in the Hardware & Devices forum area, but you might see if this may help or not to unlock it.

Unlock Huawei 3G Mobile WiFi (MiFi) E585, E5832, E5830, E583C Free | UnlockGuru.Com

 

[romiadam]

Uff, problem finaly solved (after 5 days). I have had installed O2 broadband (Ireland) connection wizard. I did not uninstall it, because I stil used it (threre were saved more profiles as O2, Meteor and 3Ireland) and I want to use it in case I will unnlock E5830.
I find out that the setup wizard placed Autorun folder in to C:\Program Files\O2\O2 Broadband USB Modem\O2 Broadband\AutoRun and there were two files:
- AutoRunSetup.exe
- AutoRunUninstall.exe

I ran AutoRunUninstall.exe . File AutoRunSetup.exe has dissappeared and there appeared two more files DeleteFile.exe a DelFile.bat. After few second all these 3 files (AutoRunUninstall.exe, DeleteFile.exe, DelFile.bat) has dissappeared. The folder Autorun remained empty. o restart was necessary. After this, my problem has been solved, and when I attached my UBS modem, no connection magager was opened. Now finaly autorun was disabled.