Autorun.inf Editor to Create Autoplay CD
January 6th, 2010 | 
Author: Autorun.inf Editor for Autoplay CD
The Autorun.inf Editor is a program that can be used to quickly and easily create the files that tell an autorun (also known as “autoplay”) CD to automatically play upon insertion into a CD-ROM drive.
This “autorun.inf” file is required when creating an autorun CD, since it is the file which signals the computer that the CD is autorun-enabled. When a CD is put into the drive, the operating system looks for the autorun.inf file. If the file exists, it reads the file and then knows how to “autoplay” the CD. There are a number of things you can do with an autorun.inf file.
There is no shareware fee or licensing required to use and/or distribute this program. This Editor was created as a free utility to make it easy for people to generate their own autorun.inf files.
With the Editor, you can create a file that can:
- Set a label for the CD (this label will be displayed in My Computer and Explorer on a Windows computer)
- Set an icon for the CD
- Specify a program on the CD (or user’s computer) to run when the CD is inserted
- Add various entries and commands to the context menu for when a user right-clicks on the CD
Autorun, or “Autoplay”, are extended automatic functions associated with removable media such as CDs and DVDs. The foundation of this feature is the insert notification support in the device driver. Most, if not all, removable devices available today support this feature. After Windows detects that a disk has been inserted, it looks in the disk’s root directory, finds, reads, and follows specific instructions defined in a text based configuration file, Autorun.inf.
In short, a computer looks for an “autorun.inf” file within any removable media inserted into it, such as a floppy, CD, or DVD, and if such a file is found, treats the media as an Autorun device. This is the essense of applications automatically launching when a CD/DVD is inserted into a computer. An prime example of this would be the “setup” application executing when a product’s CD is inserted.
The Autorun.inf file defines the process or application that will automatically run when a disk is inserted.
Autorun.inf is the primary instruction file associated with the Autorun function. Autorun.inf itself is a simple text-based configuration file that tells the operating system which executable to start, which icon to use, and which additional menu commands to make available. In other words, autorun.inf tells Windows how to deal open the presentation and treat the contents of the CD.
The entire sequence is initiated when the “disk change notifcation” polling discovers a new disk in the CD or DVD ROM drive. Then, if the “Auto insert notification” feature is enabled (it is by default), Windows checks in the new disk’s root directory for the existence of an “autorun.inf” file. If found, Windows then reads and follows the specific instructions this file defines. If no autorun.inf file is found, then Windows refers to the new disk by its serial number and executes the default actions associated with the (data or audio) content on the disk.
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| A simple Autorun.inf example: | |
| [autorun] | |
| open=autorun.exe | |
| icon=autorun.ico | |
| A complex Autorun.inf example: | |
| This example is used in the following section for complete definition and descriptions. | |
| [autorun] | |
| open=filename.exe /argument1 | |
| icon=\foldername\filename.dll,5 | |
| [autorun.mips] | |
| open=filenam2.exe | |
| icon=filename.ico | |
| [autorun.alpha] | |
| open=filenam3.exe | |
| icon=filename.ico | |
| [autorun.ppc] | |
| open=filenam4.exe | |
| icon=filename.ico | |
| shell\install = &Install | |
| shell\install\command = setup.exe | |
| shell\uninstall = &UnInstall | |
| shell\uninstall\command = Uninstall.exe | |
| shell\readme = &Read Me | |
| shell\readme\command = notepad readme.txt | |
| shell\help = &Help | |
| shell\help\command = helpfilename.hlp | |
This section describes the configuration of the Autorun.inf file and each of the potential items.
| Example Autorun File: | Description: |
| [autorun] | [autorun] is the primary, required section name. |
| open=filename.exe /argument1 | Open is the keyword to determine what action to take upon insert notification. |
| filename.exe is the value defining the application that will be automatically started. | |
| /argument1 is the argument, parameter or switch passed to the application being run. Logically, any command line parameters used must be supported by the application. | |
| icon=\foldername\filename.dll,5 | Icon is the keyword to determine the icon used for the disk. |
| filename.dll is the value defining the file containing the icon. | |
| ,5 is the argument to the icon resource defining which icon to display. | |
| Note: By default, the system looks for the file in the root directory of the inserted disk. If you want to access a file located in a specific folder or subdirectory, specify a path relative to the root.
Example: open = foldername\filename.exe This will not change the current directory. Although AutoPlay is the default menu item, you can define a different command to be the default by including the following line. shell = verb When the user double-clicks on the icon, the command associated with this entry will be carried out. Note: a more common method of defining the icon resouce is an explicit reference to a .ico file. Example: icon=autorun.ico Note: The icon defined representing your application’s CD or DVD is the drive icon as viewed with My Computer or Explorer. Valid file types containing icons include .ICO .BMP .EXE .DLL If the file includes more than one icon, by default, the second icon in the files icon resource will be displayed. |
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| Example Autorun File: | Description: | |
| [autorun.mips] | Defining the autorun items for a mips machine | |
| open=filenam2.exe | The platform specific application to run | |
| icon=filename2.ico | The platform specific autorun icon | |
| [autorun.alpha] | Defining the autorun items for a DEC Alphamachine | |
| open=filenam3.exe | The platform specific application to run | |
| icon=filename3.ico | The platform specific autorun icon | |
| [autorun.ppc] | Defining the autorun items for a Power PC | |
| open=filenam4.exe | The platform specific application to run | |
| icon=filename4.ico | The platform specific autorun icon | |
| shell\install = &Install | The Keyword defining a menu item and the Hot key for that item | |
| shell\install\command = setup.exe | The keyword defining the operation to perform when the user selects this item | |
| shell\uninstall = &UnInstall | Additional menu item example | |
| shell\uninstall\command = Uninstall.exe | Additional menu item example | |
| shell\readme = &Read Me | Additional menu item example | |
| shell\readme\command = notepad readme.txt | Additional menu item example | |
| shell\help = &Help | Additional menu item example | |
| shell\help\command = helpfilename.hlp | Additional menu item example | |
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