84. AutoRun/AutoPlay Does Not Work When A
CD/DVD Is Inserted
This problem last surfaced in Windows XP. At that
particular time the 'probable' cause was an
application called Roxio Easy CD Creator. Where
Windows XP was concerned simply updating Roxio cured
the problem.
As has been said the last encounter with this
problem was in the early days of XP, so you can
imagine my surprise when, after inserting a DVD into
my DVD-Rom recently, I found, to my utter amazement,
that it wouldn't auto play
Both music CDs and even the Windows Vista DVD
were tried to see if they would Autorun/Autoplay
but, to my disappointment, all failed
On this occasion no Roxio software of any
description was installed on my system, therefore, I
couldn't blame that for my current demise. Finally,
through trial and error, the problem was traced to
the Windows Registry where, as if by magic,
something had actually turned the Autoplay option
off.
If you have a similar problem then I would
suggest that you first check the Windows Registry to
see if the AutoRun/AutoPlay option has inadvertently
been turned off.
To check the registry proceed as follows.
Important Note
Editing the registry can cause problems which may
render your PC unbootable. This is especially so if
you change keys that you shouldn't. Therefore, prior
to making any changes to the registry it is
suggested that you make a back up of the registry.
For more information on backing up the registry see
the following topic
35. Back Up The Registry
1/ Click the Start button.
2/ In the Search dialogue box
type; Regedit.
3/ UAC will kick in and ask your
permission to continue prior to
opening the registry editor. If you are the
Administrator, Click Continue.
If you are not the Administrator
then you will need the Administrator
password, etc before you can continue.
4/ The Registry Editor will now open.
5/ Now navigate to the following subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CDRom
6/ Look down the list of option in the
Right Hand pane of the Registry editor
Window and locate the AutoRun
option.
7/ If the AutoRun value is
1 (one) then AutoRun is
enabled. If it is 0 (zero)
then it is disabled. To
re-enable it, Right Click
on the AutoRun option, Select
Modify and in the Value
Data box type: 1 (one),
then Press OK.
8/ If AutoRun is already
enabled in this Registry key, then Locate
the following Registry subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
9/ If you are unable to locate this registry key
look for he following registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
10/ Look at the entry NoDriveTypeAutoRun
(It is sometimes difficult to locate this particular
option in the maze of other registry entries,
therefore, I find that it is easier if one uses the
Find option. Click Edit on
the registry main toolbar and then,
from the drop down menu, select
Find. In the Find What
dialogue box type: NoDriveTypeAutoRun
and then click the Find Next
button.
11/ If the value of this key is
0xb5, then AutoRun is turned off.
(or 255) then AutoRun is turned
off.
12/ To turn AutoRun back on,
Right Click the NoDriveTypeAutoRun
option and then Click Modify.
Select the Decimal option then
type: 91 (Ninety One) in the
value box, and then press
OK.
13/ Finally Close the Registry
Editor.
14/ Insert a CD or DVD
into the CD/DVD-Rom and, hopefully, it should now
AutoRun.