XP AutoPlay

Autoplay is different from autorun which is determined by a file on the CD itself. This is a configuration built into the Operating System. As with most options offered in XP, it can be your friend or it can be a giant pain in the ass.


Ever pop a CD into your computer and get a window telling you "Windows can perform the same action each time you insert a disk or connect a device with this kind of file"? Have you ever accidentally clicked the "Always do the selected action" check box and then clicked OK?

If you have, then every time you put a CD in tray you'd see the computer go off and automatically rip or play the CD or whatever. What if you don't want it to do that? Or what if you accidentally told it to do nothing and want it to play or rip or whatever? Maybe you just want that prompt screen to show up again.

Well, here's what you do:
1. Open the 'My Computer' folder.
2. Right-click the CD drive.
3. Select 'Properties' from the context menu.
4. Select the 'AutoPlay' tab.
5. From here you can adjust AutoPlay's behavior to do whatever the heck you want it to do.