Disable automatic startup of a flash drive in Windows. Flash drive autorun: enable it yourself Disable autorun of removable media

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The Windows operating system, by default, after installation on a computer, has autorun functions enabled from the computer disk itself and devices connected to it. When the operating system starts or when an external storage device is connected, some malicious software may autostart.

When the autorun feature is enabled in the operating system, the launch of such malicious software does not occur when you launch any program that contains malicious code.

This happens when, for example, the operating system starts, after inserting an optical disc into the drive, or after connecting a flash drive to your computer.

For greater security of your computer, you need to disable autorun from your hard drive, network drives, CD-DVD drives and from removable storage media (flash drives, memory cards, external hard drives). This is especially true for autorun from various removable media. When copying or transferring information using removable media from different computers, viruses most often spread.

When you connect flash drives to a computer, the “autorun.inf” file autoruns the contents of the media. A virus or some malicious code may be located either in the “autorun.inf” file itself or on such media connected to the computer.

Disabling AutoPlay in Windows 7

To disable the autorun feature in the Windows 7 operating system, you need to disable autorun for all media and devices. To do this, go to the Start menu => Control Panel => Hardware and Sound => AutoPlay => Set default settings for media or devices. In the open window, you need to uncheck the box next to “Use autorun for all media and devices.”

If you want to selectively leave autorun, then you will need to select values for each item separately. In this case, the checkbox next to “Use autorun for all media and devices” does not need to be unchecked.

Disabling AutoPlay in Windows XP Professional

In the Windows XP operating system, to disable the AutoPlay feature, you need to open the Group Policy editor. To do this, go to the “Start” menu => “Run”. Then enter the expression “gpedit.msc” => “OK” in the field.

After this, the “Group Policy” window opens, in this window click on the “Administrative Templates” item, then double-click with the left mouse button on the “System” item. Next, in the “System” section, double-click with the left mouse button on the “Disable autorun” item.

In the “Properties: Disable autorun” window, activate the checkbox opposite the “Enabled” item and in the “Disable autorun” field, select the “on all drives” option, then click on the “OK” button. After this, restart your computer for the changes you made to take effect.

Disabling AutoPlay in Windows 10

To disable autorun in Windows 10, go to the Start menu => Settings => Devices. In the settings window, open the AutoPlay tab.

In the AutoPlay setting (use AutoPlay for all media and devices), switch the switch to the Disabled position.

Many users are annoyed by the automatic launch of each storage device inserted into the device with information. In this case, audio and video players may automatically launch, or notification windows may simply pop up. But much worse things can happen, such as the installation and spread of viruses.

To begin with, it’s worth saying that there are two types of automatic launch. The first one is AutoPlay, it searches for a certain type of information on the drive and offers to run it through the default utility. The second type is Autorun, it came from older versions of Windows. In this case, Windows looks for the Autorun.ini file on the disk, and then reads and runs the actions recorded in it. This could be as simple as changing the media icon to something non-standard custom, or writing a virus into the system. This article will talk about how to disable autorun on the system.

Universal methods

This section will talk about several methods for disabling autorun, which are suitable for all systems, starting with Windows 7.

Disable Autorun and Autoplay in the Local Group Policy Editor

There are several ways to select the application you need. You can go to the launch, then you should go to control Panel, then select administration and here select Group Policy Editor. However, you can simply press win+r and enter into the window gpedit.msc. Next, the user will need to go to the computer configuration, after which Administrative Templates, then click on componentswindows. In this directory you should select the autorun policy.

Next, you need to double-click with the left mouse button on the parameter “ Disabling autorun" In the window that opens, you will need to change the checkbox to Enabled, and at the bottom of the window you should make sure that the parameter will be applied to all devices.

Using the registry editor

The user may not have access to the previous item due to the system version or other restrictions. In this case, you should use a utility to edit the registry; you can open it by pressing win+r and writing regedit. Then on the left side of the menu you will need to go through the path consisting of directories HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\, the user will also need a second partition with the same path, only it will start with HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

In these two directories, the user will need to right-click on an empty space and create new parameterdword for 3 bits. It will be necessary to name it NoDriveTypeAutorun, he will have to set the value to 000000FF. Then you can close the editor and restart the computer. After this, automatic startup of all drives will be prohibited.

Shutdown via control panel

You can also turn it off through the control panel. First, the user will need to launch it, then Equipment and sound and here click on Autorun.

Here you can uncheck the use of autorun and in this case it will not be used for any devices. However, if the user is afraid of viruses or he simply does not like certain actions, then everything can be configured here. There is an option to choose what the system will do with each file type. You can configure everything so that video files will be played immediately, or the computer will not respond to them at all.

The user can configure all the items for himself, here you can select actions for audio and video, images and programs, DVDs and so on. However, for programs it is better to disable automatic launch or at least leave a request to the user.

Autorun in Windows 8 and 8.1

For the eight, everything is set up a little differently. First you should go to settings, then go to Change computer settings, then go to Computer and devices, then go to Autorun.

Here you can turn the autoplay lever off or configure actions for each media type.

Disable in Windows 10

In the top ten for settings you should go to settings, then go to the devices section.

Next, select autorun in the left menu. Here you can turn the switch to the off position, or configure actions for each media.

Enabling autorun in Windows 7, 8, 10

Some users encounter the opposite problem. They want a menu to pop up or files to play when they insert a drive, but nothing happens. In this case, you should check the parameters described in the article. It's best to start with the settings section or control panel; this is the easiest and most likely way to disable automatic startup of drives. If everything is configured correctly there, then you should go to group policies and disable the specified parameter there. If everything is in order there, then all that remains is to go to the registry and delete the specified parameters.

I can assume that among Windows users there are many who do not really need autostart of disks, flash drives and external hard drives and even get bored. Moreover, in some cases, this can even be dangerous, for example, this is how viruses appear on a flash drive (or, rather, viruses spreading through them).

In this article I will describe in detail how to disable autoplay of external drives, first I will show how to do this in the local group policy editor, then using the registry editor (this is suitable for all versions of the OS where these tools are available), and I will also show you how to disable Autoplay in Windows 7 through the control panel and the method for Windows 8 and 8.1, through changing computer settings in the new interface.

If your version of Windows does not have a Local Group Policy Editor, you can use the Registry Editor. To do this, launch the registry editor by pressing the Win+R keys on your keyboard and entering regedit(after that, press Ok or Enter).

You will need two registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\

You must create a new DWORD value (32 bit) in these sections NoDriveTypeAutorun and assign it the hexadecimal value 000000FF.

Restart your computer. The option we set is to disable autorun for all drives in Windows and other external devices.

Disabling disk autorun in Windows 7

To begin with, I’ll let you know that this method is suitable not only for Windows 7, but also for eight, it’s just that in the latest Windows, many of the settings made in the control panel are also duplicated in the new interface, in the “Change computer settings” item, for example, it’s more convenient there change settings using the touch screen. However, most methods for Windows 7 continue to work, including the method to disable disk autorun.

Go to the Windows Control Panel, switch to the “Icons” view if you had the category view enabled and select “AutoPlay”.

After that, uncheck “Use autorun for all media and devices”, and also set “Do not perform any actions” for all media types. Save your changes. Now, when you connect a new drive to your computer, it won't try to automatically play it.

Autoplay in Windows 8 and 8.1

The same thing that was done in the section above using the control panel can be done in changing the settings of Windows 8, to do this, open the right panel, select “Settings” - “Change computer settings”.

Thank you for your attention, I hope I helped.

By default, in Windows 7, after installing disks into the optical drive, it immediately starts automatically. However, due to some system failures or adjustments made by another PC user, this function may be disabled.

Below are instructions that describe all the necessary steps in order to correctly enable the disk autorun service on a computer running Windows 7.

Instructions

To restore the normal autorun process, you just need to launch it through the “Control Panel” or make some adjustments in the system registry. First, let's consider the first switching option, that is, through the control panel.

To do this, you will only need to perform a few of the following steps:

Now, after installing the media into the drive, the system will launch it automatically again. However, if you need to manually configure specific system actions, it is recommended that you read the next section of this manual.

Autorun settings

After completing step 4 from the previous manual, the following menu will be displayed on the computer monitor:

To fine-tune the system in this window, you will need to perform actions based on the user’s own preferences and requirements, for example:

Next to each type of media, you need to click on the arrow and in the list of actions that appears, indicate what is desired for the computer owner;
If you activate the item: “Install or run the program from the user’s media,” immediately after installation in the drive, the application distribution package on the CD will begin to install automatically, so it is not recommended to activate this function when using unlicensed media;
If the item is activated: “Open a folder to view files using Explorer,” the system will perform this action, and then the user will be required to independently decide which files should be launched in the Explorer window. Therefore, this option is most preferable for experienced PC owners;
If the item “Do not perform any actions” is activated, autorun simply will not work. The user will need to manually launch it through “My Computer” in Windows 7 Explorer.

Activating a service through the system registry

In rare cases, but sometimes it happens that after following the above instructions, autorun still does not work. Then the method of changing some parameters in the registry will help.

The algorithm of actions consists of the following steps:

Problems with autorun

If even after adjusting the value in the registry, automatic activation does not work, then you need to take several additional steps:

Such a convenient and at the same time controversial feature of the Windows OS as “Autorun” is heard by many users. However, not everyone knows about its purpose and benefits in work. In this article we will tell you how to enable autorun of a flash drive and what advantages and disadvantages it has. We will look at all the ways to activate it on Windows 7 and 10.

The Autorun option was introduced by Microsoft developers on the outdated operating systems Win 95 and XP. This allowed the computer to be used as a full-fledged media player. A person only had to insert a CD, floppy disk, or USB drive into the drive tray or port - its contents would be played automatically. Even then, the PC became a kind of music center or video player.

The negative side of this functionality is the strong vulnerability of the system to malware and viruses. The dangerous software replaces the standard file of the root folder of the flash drive “Autorun.inf” with its infected copy containing a link or executable program. So the system itself launches a virus within itself and the user practically cannot stop this process.

In subsequent versions of the OS, developers disabled “autorun” by default, but left the option to choose. If you are aware of the risks and you have a powerful antivirus installed, you can enable autorun on your PC yourself using our tips.

Enable via “Control Panel” or “Settings”

The easiest way to activate the “autorun” function in Windows 7 is to use the “Control Panel” system menu. We do it as described below.

Let's go to "Start/Control Panel/Hardware and Sound" and click on the section "Autostart".

Place a check mark next to it “Use autorun for all media and devices”. You can also specify individual launch parameters for any device paired with a PC. Click at the bottom of the window "Save".

Autostart of a flash drive on Windows 10 is even easier to activate.

Opening "Start/Settings" and select the submenu "Devices".

Click on “Autorun” and switch the top checkbox to the position as in the screenshot.

Here the user has access to separate profiles for various types of devices: smartphones, tablets, removable Flash media, video cameras, SD memory cards and other gadgets. The parameters for connected devices differ. Thus, you can disable autorun for USB drives, but allow it for a DVD drive, or vice versa.

It is worth noting that enabling this mode on the “ten” is also possible through the control panel. It is performed in the same way as described above for Windows 7.

Enabling via the Policy Management Console

This method is quite accessible to the average user and can help if, for various reasons, autostart of a flash drive in Windows 7 does not work. Everything is simple here:

Open the menu "Start", after which we write in the search line "gpedit.msc". Click on the console file that appears.

In the console interface that appears, follow the path "Administrative Templates/ComponentsWindows/Startup Policies". We are interested in the item “Disable autorun” ‒ make two clicks on it.

In the pop-up window, put a tick opposite "Disable" in the upper left corner and confirm with the button "OK".

In case you have any confusion, let us explain: this service was created to disable the “autorun”. We deactivated it through our actions and removed the blocking. The above method also applies to Windows 10 systems.

Activating automatic startup through the registry editor

If, after all the autostart measures, there is still no flash drive in Windows 10 and 7, then the third method will help - setting it up through the registry. It is similar to the previous option, but requires special care. "Avtorun" can be activated manually with or without the use of a third-party utility. First, let's look at the standard Windows method without downloading software.

To do this you need:

Open menu "Start", enter the word in the line "regedit" and click on the console editor file “ exe".

Prepare a safety copy of the entire register. This is highly recommended to return the system to its previous state in the event of a failure. In the toolbar we find "File/Export". We give the file a name and save it in any visible place or just on the desktop.

The left half of the window is reserved for the database manager.

It requires you to follow this path: "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer."

Take a close look at the options on the right side of the window. The screenshot above is a sample system with autorun enabled. This is how it should be for you too. If, in addition to these objects, there are others with the name « NoAutorun" or « DisableAutorun", or similar in name - delete them.

Go to: "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer."

Perform similar actions to remove blocking parameters. The window should look like this:

Go to:

"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoplayHandlers".

At parameter "DisableAutoplay" The value should be REG_DWORD:00000000 as in the screenshot below.

After this, you need to restart the computer and check the functionality of the function on the flash drive.

Setting up the startup registry using the Reg Organizer utility

Now we will consider these same steps using a convenient program for servicing domestically developed PCs - “Reg Organizer”.

Launch the program and select the item in the top panel: "Tools/Registry Editor".

Copy the desired path into the search bar and click "Go" and make changes according to the plan described above.

If you notice strange behavior of the system after changes and reboots, for example, crashes or freezing of the screen, then you can always roll back all actions. Double-click on the file of a previously prepared copy of the registry and click "OK". Then restart your computer.

Eventually

Our article described three main ways to enable USB autorun in Windows 7 and 10. The first two are available to everyone. Setup will not cause any inconvenience and will not take much time.

The third option, with changing registry values, is the most complex and is aimed at advanced users. We advise beginners not to experiment with it, since the registry contains data about the parameters and settings of Windows system files. Damage to it can lead to serious problems with your PC.

To save personal time, it is better to use the free program “Reg Organizer” or another similar one. Its main advantage is fast navigation through sections and a more understandable graphical shell.

Remember that enabling media autorun reduces your computer's protection from viruses and puts your confidential data at risk!