Autorun CD

Autorun

When today's computer users insert a CD or DVD into their drive, they expect to be able to sit back, enjoy and let the presentation run automatically on its own. Leaving your users to search for the program or document that needs starting is a bad idea because, like in so many other areas of life, first impressions count.

Have you created a CD or DVD featuring: A product presentation A business presentation Business cards A job application A dissertation A doctoral thesis An e-book A photo slide show A software CD An archive
...then why not impress your CD users by having your presentation or application start automatically!

The Windows operating system comes complete with a feature that permits a program to be started automatically when a (CD, DVD or floppy disk) is inserted into the respective drive; this feature is known as autorun, autoplay and autostart.

The following pages provide details about the Windows autorun function, as well as information and instructions about how to create and design your own autorun CD.

Please note
As far as the operating system is concerned, there is no difference between a CD and a DVD; both are data-storage mediums with different storage capacities. To this end, then, the information provided here applies to both CDs and DVDs.

Subjects addressed:

• Technical information about autorun
• Creating an autorun CD menu
• Checking or altering the autorun settings

It's hard to imagine the world of communications and computer technology without inexpensive CD and DVD data-storage systems.

Glossary

Autorun
The Windows operating system comes complete with a feature that automatically starts programs when a data carrier is changed (such as when a CD ROM is inserted). The information needed to do this is contained in the "Autorun.inf" text file.

Autoplay or autostart
Autorun, autoplay and autostart are different terms for the same function, that is, the function that starts a program automatically when a data-storage medium is changed.

CD and DVD
As far as the Windows operating system is concerned, there is no difference between a CD and a DVD. Both are data-storage mediums with different storage capacities, the only difference is the way in which they are recorded. All of the information given on this website applies to both CDs and DVDs.