Set default action for CD/DVD/BD/Etc

[Tbird761]

How is it possible to change the default action (eg: double-click on the drive icon; the bold entry in the right-click context menu) for an optical drive?

Keep in mind that this has nothing to do with AutoPlay. I always turn AutoPlay completely off. I just want double-click to perform the old school "Open" action on an optical drive instead of "Play" since I virtually NEVER want to do that with a disc. There doesn't appear to be a place to set this. I guess Microsoft is trying to make things easier for their users, but the lack of configurability is frustrating.

Edit For Future Readers: Success! Thanks to shoelessinsight, we finally have an answer! You can fix this by changing the default action to "Open" for the "DVD" entry under HKCR in your registry. Works for video DVDs at least...may be other keys you'll have to find for other disc types.

Short version fix: Run the attached .reg file. LOOK AT THE CONTENTS FIRST BEFORE RUNNING A .REG FROM A STRANGER OF COURSE! (But seriously, it's not going to do anything but change this value for you.)

 

[Jacee]

Right click and choose open doesn't work?

 

[Tbird761]

That accomplishes opening the disc, but I want open to be the default. I more often want open than anything else, so why not make that the normal double-click action?

 

[greyoldchief]

Autoplay

Open autoplay in control panel. You will have all kinds of options.

 

[Tbird761]

@greyoldchief: AutoPlay is completely unrelated, as stated in the first post.

@TooCrooked: I never found an answer to this particular issue, either.

 

[Ztruker]

You need to leave Autoplay enabled and use it's settings to control the default action, as greyoldchief mentioned.

 

[Ztruker]

Tbird761 asked how to make Open the default action. Autoplay from Control Panel allows you to do this, see the picture below.



It doesn't seem to change the Bolded action in the right click Context Menu though.

This worked for XP, may still work for Vista and Win 7: Search Companion Starts If You Double-Click a Folder

 

[Tbird761]

Yes, autoplay is unrelated. Setting the default autoplay action has no impact on the default double click action, only that which happens automatically when a disc is inserted. These are very different problems. Autoplay is not the answer, but many people trying to help on various forums have made that same mistake.

 

[shoelessinsight]

Sorry to join this discussion late, but I just ran across this thread while looking for the same information. Since I couldn't find any answers on the internet, I did some trial and error in my Windows 7 Registry and quickly found a solution.

For data discs, such as game DVDs, my default has always been "Open" without any registry edits. If I recall correctly, I made that change through the Autorun dialog, as Ztruker suggested, but it didn't work for movie discs. To make "Open" the default for movie DVDs and BDs, follow the instructions below.

First, I give everyone the standard disclaimer that editing the Windows Registry carries the risk of damaging your Windows installation, so proceed with caution if you decide to make these changes.

Open your Registry Editor by pressing the "Windows" key + "R", and then typing "Regedit" (without quotes) in the "Run" window.

Open "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", then scroll down until you find "DVD". Open that key and click on the key labeled "shell".

In the right pane you will see an entry titled "Default", which probably has a value like "Play" or "PlayWithPowerDVD". Double-click on "Default" and change the value to "Open" (without quotes).

This seemed to affect my Blu-ray discs as well, but there is also a "BluRay" key in "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT". For good measure, I made the same change to the "shell" key there as well. I could not find any key for "CD", so the above two changes should be enough.

The changes take effect immediately, so right click on your DVD drive to test it. It worked like a charm for me.

This fix took me all of ten minutes to find and test, so it's entirely possible that I'm missing a few cases where that annoying "Play" default will still show up. If anybody finds anything, let me know.

Good luck!

 

[Tbird761]

Sorry to join this discussion late, but I just ran across this thread while looking for the same information. Since I couldn't find any answers on the internet, I did some trial and error in my Windows 7 Registry and quickly found a solution.

For data discs, such as game DVDs, my default has always been "Open" without any registry edits. If I recall correctly, I made that change through the Autorun dialog, as Ztruker suggested, but it didn't work for movie discs. To make "Open" the default for movie DVDs and BDs, follow the instructions below.

First, I give everyone the standard disclaimer that editing the Windows Registry carries the risk of damaging your Windows installation, so proceed with caution if you decide to make these changes.

Open your Registry Editor by pressing the "Windows" key + "R", and then typing "Regedit" (without quotes) in the "Run" window.

Open "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", then scroll down until you find "DVD". Open that key and click on the key labeled "shell".

In the right pane you will see an entry titled "Default", which probably has a value like "Play" or "PlayWithPowerDVD". Double-click on "Default" and change the value to "Open" (without quotes).

This seemed to affect my Blu-ray discs as well, but there is also a "BluRay" key in "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT". For good measure, I made the same change to the "shell" key there as well. I could not find any key for "CD", so the above two changes should be enough.

The changes take effect immediately, so right click on your DVD drive to test it. It worked like a charm for me.

This fix took me all of ten minutes to find and test, so it's entirely possible that I'm missing a few cases where that annoying "Play" default will still show up. If anybody finds anything, let me know.

Good luck!

We have a winner! Someone who finally took the time to read the posts. I'd looked in the registry before, but I didn't think to look in the classes node since that's normally for file associations instead of devices. I was crawling all through HKLM instead.

Short version for future readers: Run the attached reg (after you view it to make sure I'm not including bad stuff...you should ALWAYS check!).

 

[shoelessinsight]

Glad to hear that it was what you were looking for. =)

Out of curiosity, do you have the "BluRay" key that I mentioned? If so, do you have a Blu-ray drive? Since I have Blu-ray, it left me wondering if this key existed for computers that don't have a Blu-ray drive installed.

I haven't tested it much, but from what I can see the "BluRay" key doesn't seem to do anything.

 

[Tbird761]

No keys starting with "blu" on my machine despite the presence of a bluray drive. I wasn't concerned about it since you noted it didn't appear to effect anything. It must have been created by some program you installed.

Thanks again

 

[dosucol]

To had to say thank you ,as my double click and "play" both stopped working once i removed access to wmp and no matter what i tried,i couldn't get wmp classic to play my dvd film with a simple double click or even right click and choosing "play" action . I used to use the "action" method in xp ,but once again ,ms removed this from windows 7 ,so thanks to you and a bit more research ,i got this working through the registry,something i don't like messing with ,but thanks to ms wisdom,more people have to now mess about with the registry than they used to under xp ? And here's the other info i needed to get my "play" action working again. Default DVD player - Microsoft Help | DSLReports Forums (Page 2)

 

[edcooley]

To change the default action when double clicked - on AudioCD - similar regedit activities are required:
run regedit, then navigate to HKCR\AudioCD\shell - change the default action to Open.

My question: what if a CD has "enhanced content" - such that even if you've fixed the DVD, CD default actions (when double clicked - NOT referring to either AutoPlay or AutoRun)... How do you fix the default action for this?

It seems that the "optical disk" will always be called something else - rather than DVD or AudioCD (even on the same physical reading device) - you'd look for something like HKCR\[somethingElse]\shell

I was only able to find "Run enhanced content" under the "Explorer" section - and that only while the "enhanced content CD" was in the tray.

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints2\{codeAssociated_withthe_CD}\shell\AutoRun\(default action:Run enhanced content)

The {codeAssociated_withthe_CD} above disappears from the registry when you remove the CD, so it's likely tied to each individual CD at this point in the registry, rather than something that could be fixed once (and certainly wouldn't be 'fixed' for different users that logged onto the machine).

Suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[NodTrooper32]

I see that this is useful, but how can I do this with my Seagate External? The default action keeps being, "Start my Seagate FreeAgent" but I want it to be FREAKIN' OPEN! I've been looking for a solution for about a week, now...Can't find anything on it at all.

 

[turnkit]

running .REG file works! No more errors but folder opens

THANKS!

The .reg file was great.

I was getting an error every time I double clicked on a DVD image under My Computer.

Now when doing so the folder opens which is much preferred and way less annoying than having to right click-open.

THANKS AGAIN! Great issue to have addressed and SOLVED.

 

[sfeldner]

A program that I use will do all that everyone is looking for. It's called "Default Programs Editor" -- see: Default Programs Editor
It tweaks AutoPlay, Context Menus, Default Programs and more. Best of all, it's "DonationWare" -- and you'll want to make a donation!

 

[Ztruker]

It doesn't do what the reg files heredo for file type association repair. Other then that it looks interesting.

 

[sfeldner]

Try this...
Run "Default Programs Editor"
Choose Autoplay Settings
Choose DVD movie
Click Next
Choose or Add the Handler you want...
(For purposes of this discussion, click on: Open folder to view files)
Notice the following option then appears near the bottom:
"Set selected handler as default for DVD movie media"
The new default action is bolded.
Click Save Autoplay settings (or choose the save dropdown to save a .reg file
TA DA

 

[Friorey]

Sorry to join this discussion late, but I just ran across this thread while looking for the same information. Since I couldn't find any answers on the internet, I did some trial and error in my Windows 7 Registry and quickly found a solution.

For data discs, such as game DVDs, my default has always been "Open" without any registry edits. If I recall correctly, I made that change through the Autorun dialog, as Ztruker suggested, but it didn't work for movie discs. To make "Open" the default for movie DVDs and BDs, follow the instructions below.

First, I give everyone the standard disclaimer that editing the Windows Registry carries the risk of damaging your Windows installation, so proceed with caution if you decide to make these changes.

Open your Registry Editor by pressing the "Windows" key + "R", and then typing "Regedit" (without quotes) in the "Run" window.

Open "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", then scroll down until you find "DVD". Open that key and click on the key labeled "shell".

In the right pane you will see an entry titled "Default", which probably has a value like "Play" or "PlayWithPowerDVD". Double-click on "Default" and change the value to "Open" (without quotes).

This seemed to affect my Blu-ray discs as well, but there is also a "BluRay" key in "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT". For good measure, I made the same change to the "shell" key there as well. I could not find any key for "CD", so the above two changes should be enough.

The changes take effect immediately, so right click on your DVD drive to test it. It worked like a charm for me.

This fix took me all of ten minutes to find and test, so it's entirely possible that I'm missing a few cases where that annoying "Play" default will still show up. If anybody finds anything, let me know.

Good luck!

can u please tell me how can i make Double clicking on a DVD E) play with Media player 12?
because it used to play with media player classic , and after i deleted it it now shows an error