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Using the AutoRun Feature on Your CD Player

By Dick Curry

July, 2007

I sent the following message to Chris Satterthwaite who asked a question relating to not being able to use the autorun feature when inserting a CD into his player:

"You asked how you could get your CD to automatically start playing when you stick a CD into it.  If you are using Microsoft XP (which I think you told me you did), do the following:

1) From the Windows desktop, Click on My Computer.
2) Right-click on the icon for your CDROM drive, then click Properties.
3) Select the AutoPlay tab, then choose the type of CD (Music, pictures, mixed data, etc.)
4) Select an action to perform, or select Take no action.

If you have Windows 98 or ME try the following:

1) From the Windows desktop, right-click on My Computer.
2) Click on Properties
3) Select the Device Manager tab.
4) Click on the "+" next to CDROM
5) Select the entry for your CDROM drive.
6) Click on Properties, and then select the Settings tab.
7) Enable or disable the Auto-Insert Notification option.
8) Click OK twice.
9) The change will be effective after you restart Windows

I think you mentioned that this happens with all CDs.  If it happens with only one it might be that the autorun.inf file is missing or corrupt.  Open Windows Explorer (right click Start, left click Explore) and check the file names for your CD partition to make sure the CD has this file.

If this doesn't work or it is confusing (which it may well be) let me know and I'll work with you until we get it right.                                                                                   

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