23. AutoPlay/AutoRun Doesn't Work

Important Question! Can your PC Run Faster?

There is nothing more frustrating than inserting a CD or DVD into your CD/DVD drive only to find that it won't auto play. Strangely Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 all have the ability to turn this option off without even telling you. I honestly swear that the autoplay/autorun option is haunted. Still even though autoplay/autorun can be a pain it is easily remedied by a simply registry tweak.

To make the necessary adjustments to the Windows Registry proceed as follows.

Important Note

Registry editing is not for the faint hearted and you really must feel comfortable editing this way; any mistakes can easily render your PC unbootable. Therefore, before beginning we suggest that you read through these instruction carefully and make sure you understand them prior to making any alterations. As a safeguard it is also wise to make a complete backup of your registry. For instruction on backing up the registry Click on the following link: 16 Back Up The Registry

1. Click the Start button.
2. In the Search dialogue box type: Regedit
3. User Account Control will ask for permission to open the registry editor. If you are the Administrator, Click Continue. If you are not then you will need the Administrator user name and password before being able to continue.
4. Once the Administrator has given permission the Registry Editor will open.
5. The first thing you need to do is navigate to the following subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CDRom.
6. In the Right Hand Pane you will see a list of options. Look for the AutoRun option.
7. If the value in the AutoRun data column is 1 (one) then AutoRun is enabled. If, on the other hand, the value is 0 (zero) then it is disabled. In order to re-enable AutoRun, Right Click on the AutoRun option and Select Modify. In the Edit DWord Value box, Click the radio button next to the Decimal base and in the Value Data box type: 1 (one), then Press OK.
8. Should AutoRun already be enabled for this Registry key then move on to the following subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
9. If this registry subkey is not available then look for the following Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
10. Once you have located this sub key look for an entry marked NoDriveTypeAutoRun (We should point out that this entry is sometimes elusive, therefore, you may find it easier to use the Registry Find option to locate the entry. To do this Click Edit on the registry main toolbar and select Find. In the Find What dialogue box type: NoDriveTypeAutoRun and click the Find Next button.
11. Once you have located this sub key take a look at its value. If it is 0xb5 or 255 then AutoRun is turned off (disabled).
12. To enable AutoRun, Right Click the NoDriveTypeAutoRun option and Click Modify. Select the Decimal option and type: 91 (Ninety One) in the value box. Finally press OK.
13. All that is left to do now is to Close the Registry Editor and insert a CD/DVD into the CD/DVD-Rom. The CD/DVD should now AutoRun/AutoPlay.