Published by

**Brink** · 15 Jul 2007

How to Change AutoPlay Settings in Vista

Information

AutoPlay is a feature that lets you choose which program to use to start different kinds of media, such as music CDs, or CDs or DVDs containing photos, etc. This will show you how to turn AutoPlay on or off, and how to reset or change the AutoPlay settings to how you want them.

Note

AutoPlay uses this Service with these default settings: Shell Hardware Detection (Started/Automatic)

In Windows 7, Vista, and XP, two important changes were made to help improve security:

NOTE: For more on this, see: AutoRun changes in Windows 7 - Security Research & Defense - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

AutoPlay will no longer support the AutoRun functionality for non-optical removable media. In other words, AutoPlay will still work for CD/DVDs but it will no longer work for USB drives. For example, if an infected USB drive is inserted on a machine then the AutoRun task will not be displayed. This will block the increasing social engineer threat highlighted in the SIR. The dialogs below highlight the difference that users will see after this change. Before the change, the malware is leveraging AutoRun (box in red) to confuse the user. After the change, AutoRun will no longer work, so the AutoPlay options are safe.
A dialog change was done to clarify that the program being executed is running from external media.

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View)

2. Click on the AutoPlay icon.

3. To Turn AutoPlay On or Off

A) Check or Uncheck Use AutoPlay for all media and devices. (See screenshot below)

B) Click on Save to apply.

4. To Change AutoPlay Settings

A) Click on the drop down menu next to the type of Media or Devices. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: Make sure that you have the device plugged in to change it's settings. (EX: USB device)

B) Click on the default action you want to select it. (See screenshot below)

C) Click on Save to apply.

5. To Reset Back to All of AutoPlay Defaults

A) Click on the Reset all defaults button. (See screenshot below step 3)

B) Make your new choices or click Save to leave the defaults.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**jackpelter** · 27 May 2008

how do i remove redundant entries in the autoplay options in windows Vista (example Nero or Cyberlink) once the program has been uninstalled?

**sidney1st** · 27 May 2008

Hi Jack,
Welcome to the forum!

Check on Nero website, they have a tool which clean all their entries.
Nero – Tools & Utilities
For cyberlink, search in the registry and delete their entries (be careful, create a restore point before)

Also, clean your computer/registry with a tool like crap cleaner for example.

**Dwarf** · 27 May 2008

Hi Jack,

This can be done through editing the registry. If you are not sure about editing the registry, I strongly advise against it as mistakes can necessitate the reinstallation of Vista. However, if you wish to do this then follow the instructions. Click the start orb and type 'regedit' into the search box. Right click on this program and select 'Run as administrator'. After providing administrative credentials, the registry editor will open. Browse to the following key:
'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\AutoplayHandlers'. Right click this key and select 'Export' and give the file a suitable name. If you make a mistake, you can restore this key by clicking 'File' and 'Import...' and browse to the location of the file you created when you exported the key. Under this key are some other keys, and the ones you are interested in are 'EventHandlers' and 'Handlers'. The following images show the default settings for these keys.

The next image shows the 'Handlers' subkey after installing 'CyberLink PowerDVD 7'.

Note the addition of the last 3 items. Refer back to the 'EventHandlers' subkey (the 1st image) and click on each of these names in turn. Note that the entry 'PDVDPlayCDAudioOnArrival' as displayed in the 'Handlers' key is represented by the sub-key 'PlayCDAudioOnArrival' in the 'EventHandlers' key. The other entries are similarly represented.

In all cases, right click on the item beginning 'PDVDPlay...' and select 'Delete'. This will remove all 'Autoplay' options for 'CyberLink PowerDVD 7'. Obviously, your entries might be different, but if you use the first 2 images as references you should be able to remove the other entries.
Dwarf

**jackpelter** · 27 May 2008

Thanks Dwarf, Thanks Sid, i'll get on to it now, thanks for the quick reply

**cmanmohan** · 12 Aug 2008

The tutorial on the above has been useful to me.

thanks,

manmohan

**Brink** · 12 Aug 2008

Your welcome Manmohan, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

**chuah_hl** · 05 Oct 2008

I have the same questions as jackpelter, but my redundant entry is Canon PowerShot A75, which I have uninstalled. I tried Dwarf way, but I couldn't find it. Is there other way to remove it from my autoplay setting?

**Dwarf** · 05 Oct 2008

Hi chuah_hl and welcome to the forums

Can you reply with the details of your 'EventHandlers' and 'Handlers' sections of your registry as shown in my post above. For information on attaching images to your posts, please refer to the following Tutorial: How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista

**chuah_hl** · 06 Oct 2008

Here is my Event Handlers and Handlers:

Thank you for helping with my problem.

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