Autoplay CD's - How to Disable

• Autoplay is enabled by default on CD and DVD drives - but you can change that setting. 
• Autoplay is disabled by default for Floppy drives and external Hard drives - and that cannot be changed.

Autoplay starts to read from a drive as soon as you insert media in the drive, which causes the setup file for programs or audio media to start immediately. It is a nice feature actually, because you can tell Windows what program to start up based on the contents of the inserted disc.  For example, an audio CD starts up WMplayer, and a DVD starts up PowerDVD player, and data starts up Windows Explorer.

Autoplay occurs when you insert a CD and it starts automatically - typically a splash screen pops up with buttons (shortcuts) to run an install, play a game, etc.  The CD contains a file called "autorun.exe" which is accessed when the CD is inserted.

*** Hot Tip ***
If you like Autoplay and want to leave it enabled, but also want to disable it on the fly . . . then leave it enable, and simply hold down the Shift key for a few seconds when you insert a disc.  This will temporarily disable Autoplay !!!

Now why would you want to permanently disable your autoplay?  Because it gives YOU the control - that's why.  If you like Autoplay, fine, but many people want to pick their own songs from an audio CD, or select their own pics from a CD of snapshots, etc.  In addition, autoplay causes a delay when you insert a CD, as Windows decides what to do with the contents.  So many people do not like this feature, because they prefer to access the CD files interactively using Windows Explorer.  In addition, it interferes with what you are doing - with the splash screen.  You can either leave this option enabled, and then either allow the CD to autostart or stop the autostart interactvely.  Or you can disable it.

In the settings, you can configure autostart for different types of CD's.  For music CD's you can select your favorite player, and for data CD's select Windows Explorer, etc.  You can also choose "No Action".

To Disable CD autoplay permanently in Windows XP

a)    Computer Configuration  (preferred, takes top priority) / Administrative Templates / System . . .

                                AND

 b)   User Configuration (2nd priority) / Administrative Templates / System . . .

Note: This setting appears in both the Computer Configuration and User Configuration folders. If the settings conflict, the setting in Computer Configuration takes precedence over the setting in User Configuration.

3) for each of the two settings in Step 2, double-click the Turn off Autoplay entry in the right pane, and modify it as you desire.

To Disable CD autoplay temporarily

insert CD and hold the shift key down until it spins up