The main reason of Autorun is to offer an app response to hardware actions that start on a computer. Autorun (Autoplay) feature is typically called from removable media like CD/DVDs and USB drives. During AutoPlay, the Autorun.inf file from the media is parsed. This file specifies which commands the system runs. Most of CD/DVD’s Installers and other removable devices use this functionality to start setup.

So here is an article that helps you enable or disable autorun functionality for specific devices.

How To:

1. Open Registry Editor (Type regedit in Start Search or Run Dialog Box and press ENTER)
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer 
3. Now look for NoDriveTypeAutoRun, a DWORD registry value and set its value as you desired to control autorun (auto play) function for specific devices.

HEX    Decimal  Action
1 1 Disables AutoPlay on drives of unknown type
4 4 Disables AutoPlay on removable drives
8 8 Disables AutoPlay on fixed drives
10 16 Disables AutoPlay on network drives
20 32 Disables AutoPlay on CD-ROM drives
40 64 Disables AutoPlay on RAM disks
80 128 Disables AutoPlay on drives of unknown type
FF 255 Disables AutoPlay on all kinds of drives

You can disable multiple devices by adding their values, like if you want to disable CD-ROMs and Removable devices only.

Just add 4+32 = 36 (In Decimal) and 4+20=24 (In Hex) and set the resultant value.

Applies To:

  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP

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