Autorun.inf is the primary instruction file associaded with the Autorun function. Autorun.inf itself is a simple text based configuration file that tells the which executable to start, which icon to use, and which additional munu commands to make available. In other words, utorun.inf tells how to deal open the presentation and treat to contents of the CD.

The entire sequence is initiated when to "disk change notification" 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 chechs in the new disk's root directory for the existence of an "autoinf" file. If found, Windows then reads and follows the specific instructions this file defines. If no .inf file is found, then Windows refers to the new disk by ist serial number and exxcutes the default actions associated with the (data ro audio) content on the disk.

The Autorun.inf file defines the following:

The process or application that will automatically run when a disk is inserted. Optionally, one can define the process or application that will run for specific Operating enviroments. The icon that will represent your applications's CD or DVD when the drive is viewed whit My Computer or Explorer. Menu commands displayed when the user right-clicks the CD-Rom icon form My Computer or Explorer.

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.mlps] open=filename2.exe icon=filename.icon [autorun.alpha] open=filename3.exe icon=filename.ico [autorun.ppc] open=filename4.exe icon=filename.ico shell\install\=&install shell\uninstall=&uninstall shell\uninstall\command=uninstall.exe shell\readme=&Read me shell\readme\command=notepad redme.tex shell\help=&Help shell\help\command=helpfilename.hlp

This section describes the configuration of the Autorun.inf file and each of the potential items.

Eaample 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 valve defining the application that will be automaticall 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 containint 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 AutopPlay is the default menu item, you can define a different command to be the default by including the follwoing line. shell = berb

When the user double-clicks on the icon, the command associated with this entry will be carried out.

Note: The icon defined representing your application's CD or DVD is the drive icon as viewed with My Computer or Explorer. Vaild 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.

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.tex Additional menu item example shell\help=&Help Additional menu item example shel\help\command=helpfilename.hlp Additional menu item example

Eelow are some of the commands\entries in the Autorun.inf file described beriefly. A more detailed descrip- tion can be found at the following Microsoft page: Autorun.inf Entries

OPEN= The OPEN command specifies the path and file name of the application that AutoRun launches when a user inserts a disc in the drive. You can also specify parameters/arguments to the application.

ICON= The ICON command specifies an icon which represents the AutoRun-enabled drive in the Windows . The icon is normally an .ico file, but can also be a .bmp, .exe or .dll file containg icon information. The icon file must be in the same directory as the file specified by the OPEN command.

LABEL= The LABEL command specifies a text label which represents the AutoRun-enabled drive in the Windows user interface. This text label is for example in Windows Exploreer showed to the right or below the drive icon.

SHELLEXECUTE= The SHELLEXECUTE command starts an application or opens a doucment. Works only in newer Windows systems.

SHELL= The SHELL command specifies a default command for the drive's shortcut menu. The shortcut menu of the drive is the menu that is opened when the user right click on the drive icon.

SHELL\VERB= The SHELL\VERB command adds a custom command to the drive's shortcut menu. This custom command can for example be used to launch an application on the CD\DVD ACTION= ACTION is a relative new command that was introdeced in Windows XP SP2. It is not supported in earlier Windows. This command specifies a text that should be shown as the first option in the Windows dialog, together with the icon specified by the ICON. This option is always selected by default and if the user accepts the option, the application specified by the OPEN or SHELLEXECUTE entry in the media's Autorun.inf file is launched.

Run Commands: ciadv.msc - certmgr.mcs - Certificate Manager compmgmt.msc - Computer Management devmgmt.msc - diskmgmt.mcsc - Disk Management dfrg.mcs - Disk defrag eventvwr.msc - fsmgmt.msc - Shared Folders gpedit.msc - Group Policies lusrmgr.msc - Local Users and Groups ntmsmgr.msc - Removable Storage ntmsoprq.msc - Removable Storage ntmspprq.msc - Removable Storage Operator Requests perfmon.msc - rsop.msc - Resultant Set of Policies secpol.msc - Local Security Settings Services.mcs - Various Services wmimgmt.msc - Windows Management Infrastructure accwiz - Accessibility Wizard control admintools - Administrative Tools calc - Calculator command - Opens Command Prompt charmap - clipbrd - Viewer control - control desktop - Display Properties control color - Display Properties (w/ Apperance Tab Perselected) control printers - Printers and Faxes control schedtasks - Scheduled Tasks comcnfg - SQL Client Configuration chkdsk - Check Disk Utility dialer - Phone Dialer diskpart - Disk Partition Manager ddeshare - DDE Shares - Direct X Troubleshooter drwtsn32 - Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility eudcedit - Private Character Editor fonts - Fonsts Folder Control folders - Folders Properties fsquirt - Bluetooth Transfer Wizard helpctr - Help and Support hypertrm - Hyper Terminal - Iexpress Wizard icwconn1 - Internet Connection Wizard iexplore - inetwiz - Internet Setup Wizard mrt - Malicious Software Removal Tool mstsc - Remote Desktop - System Configuration Utility magnify - Windows msmsgs - msinfo32 - System Information migwiz - Files and Settings Transfer Tool moviemk - Microsoft Movie Maker mspaint - mobsync - Microsoft Syncronization Tool mailto: - Opens default email client msimn - notepad - Notepad osk - On Screen Keyboard pbrush - Paint printers - Printers Folder control packager - Object Packager regedit - Registry Editor rasphone - Remote Access Phonebook - System Edit - Windows System Security Tool sigverif - File Signature Verification Tool taskmgr - tcptest - TCP Tester tourstart - Windows XP Tour Wizard telnet - Telnet Client utilman - Utility Manager verifier - Utility wab - Import Utility win.ini - Shows current version of windows winchat - Microsoft Chat wmplayer - wupdmgr - Launches winver - Windows Version (to show which version of win dows) write - Wordpad

Run Commands To Access The Control Panel: access.cpl - Accessibility Controls appwiz.cpl - Add/Remove Programs Control desk.cpl - Display Properties Control findfast.cpl - Find Fast Control firewall.cpl - hdwwiz.cpl - Add Hardware Wizard inetcpl.cpl - Internet Proerties Control intl.cpl - Regional Settings joy.cpl - Game Controllers mmsys.cpl sounds - Sound Properties Control main.cpl keyboard - Keyboard Properties Control main.cpl - Mouse Properties Control mmsys.cpl - Multimedia Properties Control netcpl.cpl - Network Setup Wizard ncpa.cpl - Network Connections nusrmgr.cpl - User Account Management odbccp32.cpl - ODBC Data Source Administrator password.cpl - Password Properties Control powercfg.cpl - Power Configuration sysdm.cpl - System Properties Control sitcpl.cpl - Scanners and Cameras timedate.cpl - Date/Time Properties Control telephone.cpl - Phone and Modem Options wuaucpl.cpl - Atomatic Updates wscui.cpl - Security Center

Dos Command Prompt: ANSL.SYS Defines functions that change display graphics, control cursor movement, and reas- sign keys. APPEND Causes MS-DOS to look in other directories when editing a file or running a com- mand. APR Displays, adds, and removes arp information form network devices. ASSIGN Assign a drive letter to an alternate letter. ASSOC View the file asociations. AT Schedule a time to execute commands or programs. ATMADM Lists connections and addresses seen by Windows ATM call manager. ATTRIB Display and change file attributes. BATCH command that executes a series fo command in a file. BOOTCFG Enable/ Disable CTRL + C Feature. CACLS View and modify file ACL\'s. CALL CAlls a batch file from another batch file. CD Changes Directories. CHCP Supplement the International keyboard and character set information. CHDIR Changes directories. CHKDSK Check the hard disk drive running FAT for errors. CHKNTFS Check the hard disk drive runnint NTFS for errors. CHOCE Specify a listing of multiple options within a batch file. CLS Clears the Screen. CMD Opens the command interpreter. COLOR Easily change the foreground and background color of the MS-DOS window. COMP Compares files. COMPACT Compresses and uncompress. files. CONTROL Open control panel icons from the MS-DOS prompt. CONVERT Convert FAT to NTFS. COPY Copy one or more files to and alternate location. CTTY Change the computers input/output devices. DATE View or change the systems date. DEBUG Re-arrange the hard disk drive to help with loading programs. DEL Deletes one or more files. DELETE REcovery console command that deletes a file. DELTREE Deletes one or more files and/ or directories. DIR List the contents fo one or more directory. DISABLE Compare a disk with another disk. DISKCOPY Command to view and execute commands that have been run in the past. DOSSHELL A GUI to help with early MS-DOS users. DRIVPARM Enables overwrite of original device drivers. ECHO Displays messages and Enables and Disables Echo. EDIT View and Edit Files. EDLIN View and Edit Files. EMM386 Load Extended Memory Manager. ENABLE Recovery Console Command to enable a disable service or Driver. ENDLOCAL Stop the localization of the environment changes enabled by the setlocl command. ERASE Erase files from computer. EXIT Exit from the command interpreter. EXPAND Expand a M*cros*ft Windows File back to it\'s original format. EXTRACT Extract files from the M*cros*ft Windows cabinets. FASTHELP Displays a listing fo MS-DOS commands and information about them. FC Compare files. FDISK Utility used to create partitions on the hard disk drive. FIND Search for text within a files. FINDSTR Searches for a string of text within a files. FIXBOOT Writes a new boot sector. FIXMBR Writes a new boot recoard to disk drice. FOR Boolean used in batch files. FORMAT Command to earse and prepare a disk drice. FTP Command to connect and operate on a FTP . FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations. GOTo Moves a batch file to a specific label or location. GRAFTABL Show extended characters in graphics mode. HELP display a listing of commands and brief explanation. IF Allows for batch files to perform conditional processing. IF SHLP.SYS 32-bit . IPCONFIG Network command t view network adapter settings and assigned values. KeYB Change loyout of keyboard. LABEL Change the label of a disk drive. LH Load a device driver in to high memory. LISTSVC Recovery console command that displays the services and drivers. LOADFIX Load a program above the first 64k. LOADHIGH Load a device driver drive. LOGON REcovery console command to list installations and enable administrator login. MAP Displays the device name of a drive. MD Command to create a new directory. MEM Display memory on system. MKDIR Command to create a new directory. MODE Command to create a new directory. MORE Display one page at a time. MOVE Move one or more files from one directory to another directory. MSAV Early M*cros*ft Virus scanner. MSD Diagnostics utility. MSCDEX Utility used to load and provide access to the CD-ROM. NET Update, fix, or view the network or network settings Configure dynamic and static network information from MS-DOS. NETSTAT Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information. NLSFUNC Load country specific information. NSLOOKUP LOok up an IP address of a domain or host on a network. PATH View and modify the computers path location. PATHPING View and locate locations fo network latency. PAUSE Command used in batch files to stop the processing fo a comand. PING Test/ send information to another network computer or network device. POPD Changes to the directory or network path stroed by the pushd command. POWER Conserve power with computer protables. PRINT Prints data to a printer prot. PROMPT View and change the MS-DOS prompt. PUSHD Stores a directory or network path in memory so it can be returned to at any time. QBASIC Open the QBasic. RD REmoves an empty directory. REN Renames a file or directory. NENAME Renames a file or directory. RMDIR Removes an empty directory. ROUTE View and confiure windows netwok route tables. RUNAS Enables a user to excute a program on anther computer. SCANDISK Run the scandisk utility. SCANREG SCan registry and recovery registry froom errors. SCANREG Scan registry and revover registry from errors. SET Change one variable or string to another. SETLOCAL Enables local environments to be chaged without affecting anything elase. SETVER Change MS-DOS version to trick older MD-DOS programs. SHARE Installs support for file sharing and locking capabilities. SHIFT Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch program. SHUTDOWN Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS prompt. SMARTDRV Create a disk cache in conventional memory or extended memory. SORT Sorts the input and displays the output to the scren. START Start a separate window in windows from the MS-DOS prompt. SUBST Substitute a folder on your computer for another drive letter. SWITCHES Remove add functions form MD-DOS. SYS Transfer system files to disk drive. TELNET Telnet to another computer/device from the prompt. TIME View or modify the system time. TITLE Change the title fo their MS-DOS window. TRACERT Visually view a network packets route across a network. TREE View a visual tree fo the hard disk drive. TYPE Display the contents of a file. UNDELETE Undelete a file that has been deleted. UNFORMAT Unformat a hard sisk drive. UNLOCK Unlock a disk drive VER Display the version information. VERIFY Enables or disables the feature to determine if files have been written properly.