Even before the release of Windows 7 Release Candidate Build 7100 Microsoft announced that it would take extreme measures in order to increase end user protection and amputate the AutoPlay/AutoRun feature of the operating system. Over a months after Windows 7 has been released to manufacturing, Microsoft is applying the same security strategy to previous Windows releases. The Redmond company is making sure that the amputated AutoPlay/AutoRun in Windows 7 will make its way to Windows XP (including SP3), Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista (including SP2), and Windows Server 2008, for security reasons.
In this regard, Microsoft has already made available an update designed to limit the AutoPlay/AutoRun functionality in Windows 7’s precursors. Essentially, following the implementation of the refresh, the AutoPlay/AutoRun will no longer display the “Install or run program” option for USB drives.
“In Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2003, AutoRun entries were populated for all devices that had mass storage and had a validly formatted AutoRun.inf file in the root directory. This included CDs, DVDs, USB thumb drives, external hard disks, and any volume that exposed itself as mass storage. This update disables AutoRun entries in AutoPlay, and displays only entries that are populated from CD and DVD drives. Read More»
Posted in Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP | No Comments »
September 08, 2008 by
Jason Here are solutions to some common problems with AutoPlay.
The AutoPlay options only appeared once: the first time I plugged in a device or inserted a disc. How can I find them again, so I can choose a different action?
To see the options one time, right-click the device or drive, and then click Open Autoplay. If the device isn’t plugged in, hold down SHIFT and plug in the device. You can also hold down SHIFT while inserting a disc to see the list of options.
To see the options every time you plug in a device or insert a disc, follow these steps:
1. Open AutoPlay by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Hardware and Sound, and then clicking AutoPlay.
2. In the list next to the device or type of disc, click Ask me every time. Read More»
Posted in Computer | No Comments »
AutoPlay or AutoRun dialog window will pop up when an removable drive, portable device such as digital camera and media player or CD/DVD disc been inserted into computer or placed into optical drive, with plenty of action choices in a list of options for users to choose to perform on the just connected drive and drive contents. Each item in the AutoPlay list is a handler installed by various applications to show as an option for a particular events or content types such as Pictures, Videos, and Mixed.
Windows by default has several AutoPlay handlers, and other third-party programs, especially media player such as MusicMatch Jukebox and RealPlayer, and image burning software such as Nero will add their own AutoPlay handlers and shortcuts into the list. Over the time, the AutoPlay list can get longer and longer, and some entries can become invalid or orphaned when the program has been uninstalled by the AutoPlay handlers are not removed. Read More»
Posted in Windows Vista, Windows XP | No Comments »
In Windows Vista, users can effortlessly manage the programs that the operating system uses by default. Not happy with what Vista’s built-in components have to offer? Then you can simply change the platform’s default applications to the third-party programs you prefer. Vista features the Default Programs feature tucked away under Control Panel in the Start Menu. Opening it will bring up a window designed to permit you to “Set your default programs,” “Associate a file type or protocol with a program,” “Change AutoPlay settings” and “Set default programs for this computer.” Read More»
Posted in Software, Windows Vista | 5 Comments »
The Default Programs item on the new Start menu makes uncovering important settings far easier than it was in XP. Read More»
Posted in Windows Vista | No Comments »
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