Controlling Autoplay in XP

[secretcodebreaker]

I have a CD, DVD and two 'portable' hard drives (on USB 2.0 ports) on my system.

Autoplay is turned on, so whenever I 'activate' any of these devices, Autoplay runs.

I prefer that for the CD ( D: ) and DVD ( E: ) drives, since it gives me an opportunity to select the Media player program I want to use.

It's a pain with the hard drives ( F: & G: ), since I don't need to select a particular program when they come on-line. So, I have to cancel the four windows that Autoplay pops up.

Is there a way to selectively use the Autoplay option? Have it turned ON for drives D: & E: and OFF for drives F: & G:?

[TimW]

All you need to do is hold down one of the <shift> keys as you close the CD drive – and keep it held down until the CD drive LEDs stop flashing.

[secretcodebreaker]

Thanks, but that didn't work. Also, my Lacie drives don't have flashing LEDs.

What it did do was cause Windoze XP to pop-up with a FilterKey message. It went on to explain that holding down the Right shift key for 8 seconds turns on FilterKey (interesting).

XP must be running around behind the scenes doing all sorts of mischief.

Yeaterday it poped up and told me my system was at risk and it appeared that my virus protection was not up to date.

I wish it would just mind it's own business.

[TimW]

In your keyboard settings ....do you have filterkeys set?

[secretcodebreaker]

Under Control Panel =>Keyboard, there is no mention of FilterKeys. Just a Speed Tab on which a Repeat rate setting is where XP set it (didn't know there was such a thing).

It is all the way to the right (Fast).

[TimW]

Sorry ...my bad....it's under accessibility ....

[secretcodebreaker]

Under Accessability, the FilterKeys option was not checked and under Settings, the Use Shortcut was checked. I removed that check.

I then held the Right Shift key down and turned off the Lacie F drive. Waited a beat and turned it back on. Autoplay jumped right on it and displayed two Windows (as before), requiring I click on two Cancel buttons to get rid of them.

I tried it with the Left Shift key and this time when I turned the drive on only one Autoplay window popped up (the one that has the little flashlight looking for files).

Progress!

Thanks. Half a loaf is better than none.

[DavidGP]

Yes you can also use the TweakUI component from Powertoys for XP to control Autoruns, personally I hate the pesky option so disable it completly, but TweakUI can be set to be selective to a drive letter.


Once installed and run in tweakui's menu you goto My Computer > Autoplay and click the + > click Drives and untick the drive letter you dont wish to autorun > apply.

TweakUI aslo has many other great options, look through them you may fine some other options you can tweak

[secretcodebreaker]

Yes!

That did it.

Feels good (for me) to be able to tell Windoze XP to stop 'helping' me.

BTW, when I clicked on Apply, the program hung. Had to do an (Alt, Ctrl, Delete) to get it to shut down.

Thanks much for your help.

Excellent forum. It's a pleasure to be a member.

[DavidGP]

Glad it worked.

It does sometime feel like its hung when changing drive allocated functions as theirs alot for the PC to think about, I've had it a few times, pops up a "Not Responding" message and in a 5mins it disapears.