Setting a CD to Run Automatically Betsy DeGeorge

Preparing to Burn a CD? You have some data that you want to present and deliver on a CD. You want to make the data as accessible to your user as possible. You have some data that you want to present and deliver on a CD. You want to make the data as accessible to your user as possible.

You Can Help Your User Get Started!  A good way to help your user is by putting an Autorun feature on the CD that you are going to burn.

What is it?  AutoRun runs (automatically starts) a program or file when a CD is inserted into a Windows computer.

Why Use It?  Sometimes when a user receives a data CD, they don’t know what to do. They don’t know where to start.

Instructions  Instructions on the CD are important. However, it is helpful to some users if the CD just starts itself and takes them to the interface page where you, the creator of the CD, want them to be.

CD Label

autorun.inf File  A little text file entitled autorun.inf and a small executable file can be burned onto the root directory of the CD that can enable the data CD to automatically start.  You can look at this file in a text editor.  A little text file entitled autorun.inf and a small executable file can be burned onto the root directory of the CD that can enable the data CD to automatically start.  You can look at this file in a text editor. [autorun] OPEN=autoseek.exe start.html

Root of the CD Root: Top level of computer file hierarchy.

The Executable File  Use this executable file to tell the computer exactly what you want it to do and how to display it.  The one I have traditionally used is called autoseek.exe  One that is currently available free online is called ShellRun. It does some nice things while you are waiting for you CD to open, like giving you a message that something is happening.  Use this executable file to tell the computer exactly what you want it to do and how to display it.  The one I have traditionally used is called autoseek.exe  One that is currently available free online is called ShellRun. It does some nice things while you are waiting for you CD to open, like giving you a message that something is happening.

How This Works  The executable file “executes” or “does” something. In this case it “executes” or “opens” a computer application, like a browser and displays the file you tell it to display.  In my example I tell the computer to open a browser and display the file named start.html  The executable file “executes” or “does” something. In this case it “executes” or “opens” a computer application, like a browser and displays the file you tell it to display.  In my example I tell the computer to open a browser and display the file named start.html

The Technical Explanation: Simply Put  Windows machines have a core way of thinking or technique to display a file. Windows associates a viewer program with each file type. For.HTM and.HTML web pages, the viewer program will be your default browser. For a.doc file, it will be Word.  If a user does not have a viewer for your file type then it cannot be displayed until a viewer is installed. For example, if you are trying to show a PDF file, the user must have Adobe Reader or equivalent installed.  Windows machines have a core way of thinking or technique to display a file. Windows associates a viewer program with each file type. For.HTM and.HTML web pages, the viewer program will be your default browser. For a.doc file, it will be Word.  If a user does not have a viewer for your file type then it cannot be displayed until a viewer is installed. For example, if you are trying to show a PDF file, the user must have Adobe Reader or equivalent installed.

(simply more)  If a viewer is not available, the freeware version of ShellRun just displays a message. (In the retail version you can prompt the user to run a viewer installation program.)  Some viewer applications can be placed on CDs so that if the user doesn ’ t have it, they can install it lickety split.  If a viewer is not available, the freeware version of ShellRun just displays a message. (In the retail version you can prompt the user to run a viewer installation program.)  Some viewer applications can be placed on CDs so that if the user doesn ’ t have it, they can install it lickety split.

A Little Warning  Your CD users may have switched off the AutoRun feature on their computer. They might do this because they are concerned about viruses. Executables are sometimes virus carriers. You should always be cautious about opening executables from strangers. It ’ s like getting in a car with a stranger. Don ’ t do it!

 Also, if they press the Shift key down while inserting the CD, AutoRun is immediately and temporarily disabled.

AutoRun Settings  Windows 2000 and newer have AutoRun enabled as the default.  Older versions of Windows can be set to accept AutoRun in the Control Panel Settings or in the Registry. (Don’t mess with the registry.)  Instructions for doing this in the control panel can be found at: red/go-autorun.shtml  Windows 2000 and newer have AutoRun enabled as the default.  Older versions of Windows can be set to accept AutoRun in the Control Panel Settings or in the Registry. (Don’t mess with the registry.)  Instructions for doing this in the control panel can be found at: red/go-autorun.shtml

What if the User has Disabled AutoRun?  There is no way to force your users to use AutoRun. It is therefore good practice to provide instructions so that users know how to start your CD, eg. tell them to open file index.htm or whatever file you wish in their browser. These instructions are also required if your CD might be viewed by non-Windows users.  I like to use the filename start.html or start.ppt for the initial file. If the user is confused, the name itself is sometimes instruction enough.  There is no way to force your users to use AutoRun. It is therefore good practice to provide instructions so that users know how to start your CD, eg. tell them to open file index.htm or whatever file you wish in their browser. These instructions are also required if your CD might be viewed by non-Windows users.  I like to use the filename start.html or start.ppt for the initial file. If the user is confused, the name itself is sometimes instruction enough.

Get ShellRun ShellRun is freeware available to anyone who wishes to burn an autoplaying CD. The file can be obtained at: This file should be place in the root of the CD directory with the autorun.inf file and the other files to be burned on the CD. ShellRun is freeware available to anyone who wishes to burn an autoplaying CD. The file can be obtained at: This file should be place in the root of the CD directory with the autorun.inf file and the other files to be burned on the CD.

Other.inf elements  Label—You can create a label for your CD that will be shown in your computer’s directory. (This can usually be set in the CD burn program also.)  Icon—You can create a personalized icon for your CD that will be shown beside the label in the computer directory. The.inf file can call up that icon also.  Label—You can create a label for your CD that will be shown in your computer’s directory. (This can usually be set in the CD burn program also.)  Icon—You can create a personalized icon for your CD that will be shown beside the label in the computer directory. The.inf file can call up that icon also.

What Our CD Label and Icon Look Like

The icon I created was really too small for this purpose, but up close it looks like this.

You Can Do Other Things  You can use these same concepts to personalize and autostart flash drives also.  I tried this and it does work, but some of these instructions need to be tweaked a little bit.  You can use these same concepts to personalize and autostart flash drives also.  I tried this and it does work, but some of these instructions need to be tweaked a little bit.

Download from my site?  Go to:  Download: 1.ShellRun.exe 2.autorun.inf  You can edit the autorun.inf in Notepad. Contact: with  Go to:  Download: 1.ShellRun.exe 2.autorun.inf  You can edit the autorun.inf in Notepad. Contact: with