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Summary: Auto-play can be a convenient feature but if it's not what you want it can be difficult to turn off and keep off. The TweakUI utility can fix that. How do I *really* disable auto-play in Windows XP? The auto-play feature in Windows was significantly beefed up when Windows XP was introduced. For CD and DVD drives specifically, Windows will first attempt to determine what type of media you've inserted and then perform an appropriate action. If it doesn't know what action is appropriate, it asks along with providing the option to remember that action for next time. Seems fair enough, except that when I encountered it for the first time it kept forgetting the settings and would always ask. From my perspecitive that's worse that not having auto-play at all. And then I couldn't turn it off. If that sounds familiar, then you know my frustration. • Enter one of my favorite Windows add-ons: TweakUI, one of what Microsoft calls "Power Toys for Windows XP". It's more than a toy. It allows you to adjust (or 'tweak') several settings that aren't exposed directly by the standard Windows tools. Once you've installed TweakUI you'll find a lot of options in it. For our current problem, in TweakUI expand My Computer, and then AutoPlay. Click on Drives and uncheck the drive letter that you no longer want to AutoPlay. Click on Apply and that's it. No more "what would you like me to do" dialogs. TweakUI has a number of other settings, I encourage you to install it and browse around in it. It's something I install on every computer I run. (The PowerToys page has a number of nifty tools as well, have a look while you're there). Article 142 | Posted January 21, 2004 |
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Best option is to press one of the shift key while inserting thumb drive.
Posted by: TechnoLaziness at March 15, 2008 3:41 PMI'd like to thank you for saving my sanity by posting this information. The Auto-play window was running over and over on my daughter's computer and I could not turn it off. Each time it popped up, we were unable to type or use any other application whatsoever. I suspected spyware also.
I got on my laptop, googled "remove auto-play", found your site, downloaded TweakU and in the process I found that several media drives had been installed on her computer. I disabled autoplay on all of them, thanks to the TweakU program and also began running the anti-malware, anti-virues.. etc atc.
Before I found your site I was about to throw the computer in the pool. I've since bookmarked this site and I'd like to Thank You Very Very Much!!
Posted by: Laura at March 24, 2008 6:12 PMI used TWEAK UI to switch of autoplay for CD/DVD and for removable devices. Under my computer - autoplay - types you can uncheck these two types of devices. It works fine. Thanks you very much.
Posted by: Bart at May 29, 2008 7:15 AMIt is safest to disable CD autoplay in XP using either local group policy or, for an enterprise, an Active Directory group policy. The local group policy editor method:
Click Start
Click Run
Enter GPEDIT.MSC
Group Policy mmc will popup. On left panel:
Double-click Computer Configuration to open submenu
Double-click Administrative Templates to open submenu
Double-click System to open submenu
Double-click Turn autoplay off option which will be near the bottom of the list in the right panel.
The default is the Not configured . Set it to Enabled.
Posted by: Jim Ekleberry at June 18, 2008 9:19 AMIn the steps above, if you wish to disable autoplay for all drives (e.g. usb drives/keys, etc), when on the last step select All Drives instead of CD-Rom drives.
Posted by: Jim Ekleberry at June 18, 2008 9:21 AMThankyou Jim Ekleberry! This was the type of answer I was looking for! Oftentimes, these settings are completely configurable without the need for external software! (Not that TweekUI is a bad program however) just that I am proud of you for giving truly professional advice! Indeed many programs exist to help you do things that windows already does (when you know how), and I'm in favour of all those who take the time to educate this to millions of people who would have otherwise paid for software they didn't need! So Bravo to you! (To Leo also, as generally his site is pretty good as a whole!) May the knowledge live on within those willing to share it!
Posted by: JPaget at July 16, 2008 6:27 AMhow come auto play doesn't come up on the screen when i insert in a disc
Posted by: Zera at July 26, 2008 1:15 AMMr. Ekleberry... Thanks. I have to mirror the comment of JPaget. Using the tools provided (even if not well exposed) by MS would always be my preferred method as well. I never thought about it being a GP attribute. Too simple for once. Thanks!
Posted by: BT at October 3, 2008 3:38 AMQuoted from windowsnetworking.com:
"It is safest to disable CD autoplay in XP using either local group policy or, for an enterprise, an Active Directory group policy. The local group policy editor method:
* Click Start
* Click Run
* Enter GPEDIT.MSC
Group Policy mmc will popup. On left panel:
* Double-click Computer Configuration to open submenu
* Double-click Administrative Templates to open submenu
* Double-click System to open submenu
* Double-click Turn autoplay off option which will be near the bottom of the list in the right panel.
The default is the Not configured. Set it to Enabled."
Posted by: nimd4 at October 7, 2008 7:18 AMps.
In addition to my comment posted above; The funny thing is: when the Group Policy option is set, it becomes practically impossible to access the Registry key any more! :-F
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CDRom
Posted by: nimd4 at October 7, 2008 7:23 AM