AutoPlay/AutoRun Not Working or Missing Not Open in Windows Vista
An AutoPlay dialog window will be displayed and shown whenever users put in a CD or DVD disc into a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-RW or DVD-RW optical drive, or when insert and plug in a USB/FireWire removable storage device such as USB Flash memory key stick or portable and external hard disk drive into computer port, or when insert a memory card such as SD, CF, MS, xD into memory card reader.
AutoPlay (or AutoRun) dialog box allows users to select a action to perform on the contents on the drive from a series of menu options such as import pictures, play music media files, transfer videos, open folder to browser files or configure ReadyBoost caching on the device to speed up system. AutoPlay provides a convenient shortcut to directly access or run many frequently used functions.
However, the AutoPlay dialog may ‘disappear’ or ‘missing’ sometimes. When place in a CD or DVD, connect a USB Flash drive (memory stick or USB key or memory card) or insert a removable mobile hard disk, the AutoPlay does not working and does not open or show up as usual. Not only is automatic AutoPlay dialog option window is not activating, the “Open AutoPlay” shell extension on right click contextual menu which associated with supported drive type to manually start AutoPlay dialog has vanished as well.
Trying to resolve AutoPlay not working issue and restore AutoPlay option by resetting all settings to default via Play CDs or other media automatically link in Control Panel’s Hardware and Sound section does not help to fix the missing AutoPlay problem.
There are many reasons that can cause the Vista AutoPlay (or AutoRun) not working and does not pop up. If you’re facing the AutoPlay not appearing issue, the guide below will point you to the possible cause and where to check for the error.
Ensure that Shell Hardware Detection service is running
Type “service.msc” in Start Search to run Services console. Locate Shell Hardware Detection, and ensure that the “Service Status” is Running, and “Startup Type” is Automatic. If not, start the service and change the Startup Type setting accordingly.
Ensure that CD-ROM AutoRun is not disabled in registry
For users facing AutoRun/AutoPlay doesn’t work when insert a disc into optical drive, run Registry Editor (regedit), and navigate to the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CDRom
Locate the AutoRun registry value in the right pane, and check that the value data for AutoRun is set as 1 (one), which is enabled. If it is 0 (zero), which mean disabled CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive AutoRun process, re-enable the AutoRun by changing the value to 1.
Ensure that correct NoDriveTypeAutoRun and/or NoDriveAutoRun policy value is set
NoDriveTypeAutoRun registry key is used by Group Policy to configure whether to disable the Autoplay feature on all drives of the type specified. To check this setting, run Registry Editor (regedit), and navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
or (note that above registry value, if exists, will always supersede the below user-specific key),
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Locate the NoDriveTypeAutoRun registry entry on the right pane. The registry key is in DWORD hexadecimal value, which each bit determines which type of drive to disable or enable AutoPlay feature. There are many possible value for NoDriveTypeAutoRun, some possible wrong value that disable AutoPlay are:
0x000000B5 (181) disable AutoRun on CD-ROM drives, plus default unknown drive, removable drive (meant for floppy or ZIP), network drive and reserved drive type.
0x000000FF (255) disable AutoRun/AutoPlay on all drive types.
The best bet is to set NoDriveTypeAutoRun to default value as set by Windows Vista, which is 0×00000091 (hexadecimal) or 145 (decimal). Previous Windows version such as XP uses 0×00000095 (hexadecimal) or 149 (decimal). To enable AutoPlay on all drive types, set NoDriveTypeAutoRun to 0 (zero) or 0×00000080 (128) which only disable AutoPlay on unknown reserved file type.
Other possible NoDriveTypeAutoRun registry value data includes:
- 0×00000000 (0) enable all AutoPlay and AutoRun.
- 0×00000080 (128) disable AutoPlay on unknown reserved file type.
- 0×00000091 (145) default in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
- 0×00000095 (149) default in Windows XP.
- 0×000000B5 (181) disable AutoRun on CD-ROM drives, plus default unknown drive, removable drive (meant for floppy or ZIP), network drive and reserved drive type.
- 0×000000FF (255) disable AutoRun/AutoPlay on all drive types.
NoDriveAutoRun registry key, which stored at the same registry location, meanwhile determine whether a particular connected drive should run AutoPlay function or not. When AutoRun is enabled on the drive, media is automatically started when it is inserted in the drive.
By default, Windows Vista does not add any NoDriveAutoRun registry subkey. And you probably don’t want to block any drive from AutoPlay too. So remove and delete all NoDriveAutoRun key in the registry.
Uninstall conflict software
Some software application, especially disc imaging or image editing program such as Nero, PowerISO, MagicISO, and even some other programs such as Rhapsody and various VMWare virtualization products such as VMWare Server and VMWare Workstation has conflict with AutoPlay and will cause the AutoPlay functions to be not working.
If you’re facing the drive won’t Auto Play or Auto Run issue after installing certain software, try to uninstall the software to see if it fixes the problem. Better still if it’s possible to roll back the system using System Restore to earlier Restore Point when the software is not yet installed.
Update: The article has been updated for Windows 7.
Related posts:
- Unable to Open Hard or USB Flash Drive with Windows Script Host Cannot Find Script File autorun.vbs Error
- Restore, Enable and Display the Missing Internet Explorer (IE or IE7) Icon on Windows Vista Desktop
- Revise Autoplay Option
- How to Open Elevated Command Prompt with Administrator Privileges in Windows Vista
- Disable Windows Aero via Vista Registry
73 Comments
Pages: « Previous 1 2
thanks a lot it helped me a lot.I had the problem after instaling vmwear player
I’m also running Win 7 32bit ultimate and at some point lost all autoplay functions. I did a ton of searches, but none had a solution, even those that had me changing registry values like those Step 4. However, the combination of registry change and deleting one key described in Step 4 fixed my problem. Thank you very much for the info and help!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am extremely grateful to whomever wrote this article because as one other commenter put it I have been pulling my hair out for months trying to figure out why the autoplay feature on my Windows 7 Professional, 32 bit, stopped functioning one day. I install and remove many programs on my computer because of my coursework in online college and find it impossible to track all the changes made to the thousands of files involved.
I deleted the NoDriveTypeAutoRun entry in the Registry, rebooted, and have regained the Autoplay functionality with CD’s, DVD’s, and flashdrives. As usual I could not find anything to help with this problem in the Windows Help files, onboard or online.
Thank you folks
I just spend 4 hrs pulling may hair out trying everything. I finally noticed that NoDriveTypeAutoRun was set to 0×00000095 S/B 0×00000091. I changed and rebooted now Autoplay works properly. This is a Windows 7 machine not a XP Machine.
Thanks !!! Christmas isn’t ruined after all.
Hello! I am such a happy girl today! Used Vista and (regretably) upgraded to Windows 7. Obviously they disabled the auto-play registry settings to NOT auto-play….this and a reboot worked GREAT for me! Thank you guys so very very much!!!! Like most people here, I had tried to fix this problem myself and even my guru hubby (bless his sweet heart) couldn’t fix this until a thought came to my mind, hey girl, you had Vista before you upgraded to Windows 7 and that would be the CD/DVD drive you should be updating/fixing/repairing! KAZAM and it works even though the auto play settings were set to auto-play!!!!The regedit did the trick!
“The best bet is to set NoDriveTypeAutoRun to default value as set by Windows Vista, which is 0×00000091 (hexadecimal) or 145 (decimal).z’
I just typed in 145 (decimal) and the hexadecimal auto-magically appeared!!
Happy Girl thanks “Mydigitallife.info”
Awesome! Works now!!! Thank you!!
really useful! thank you……..:)
The autoplay/autorun problem occurred after installing VMWare.
Changing the NoDriveTypeAutoRun registry entry to 0×00000091 (145), followed by a reboot, fixed the problem.
Thanks! Wouldn't have been able to figure this out myself.
Thanks alot I've just followed your guide and it works with me. I've tried many solutions on other websites but unfortunately nothing solves my problem. You're the best thanks alot!
Hi,
my situation is here:
>If you’re facing the drive won’t Auto Play or Auto Run issue after installing certain software, try to uninstall the software to see if it fixes the problem. Better still if it’s possible to roll back the system using System Restore to earlier Restore Point when the software is not yet installed. <
should I to give up VMPlayer or could I to try modifying the keys as you described above?
thanks.
thanx dude
your idea of changing the value of "NoDriveTypeAutoRun" to 0 worked wounders
Again many many thanx to you.
You are great, have tried a hundred other so called fixes, but yours was the one. Finally someone who has some brains
Thanks
[...] AutoPlay/AutoRun Not Working or Missing Not Open in Windows Vista [...]
Thank You guys!! I had this problem really freaking me out. I even re-installed Windows 7 Ultimate (x86) on my machine in vain. The "Ensure that correct NoDriveTypeAutoRun and/or NoDriveAutoRun policy value is set" thing worked. I set the value to 145 (decimal) and updated the Adobe Flash thingy and everything went back to normal.
Thanks-A-Lot.
)
I wanted to say thank you for the great info. My PC hasn't run auto anything since the Geek Squad 'fixed' it last year. My card reader didn't work, CD's wouldn't launch and even when I plugged the extra card reader in to the usb, it wouldn't auto launch—all things that were working before they did the annual 'clean-up'!!!!! My brother found your site and helped me make sense of stuff I didn't understand. We changed two of the values and now it is all working like it was brand new. Thank you again!!!!!
I tried all of your suggestions but still can not get autoplay to pop up with my iphone or my canon camera. My iphone doesn't appear in the Autoplay Devices section at all when it is plugged in, only in the scanners and cameras section on the control panel. Any other suggestions?
Problem solved after almost one year of research on this topic…..
Uninstalled VMPlayer…………
now AutoPlay works fine…….
Windows 7 Ultimate x86
You Rock MyDigitalLife Team
yes i fixed my auto play, " Vista ", works now by resetting the registry to 145 in NoDriveType auto run in both sections …. Hkey _local.. and Hkey_current …sections as your instructions said. it was my first time using " regedit" this saved me a few dollars and a trip to a computer store,, thank you !!!!
ok, client of mine comes to me, his laptop which he uses constantly for his mobile business is no longer recognizing any removable media ie: sdcard, camera etc..
After lots of troubleshooting, i landed here! Thank God for this Site!!!
Turns out his Shell Hardware Detection service was NOT running. He was in a Verizon Store and a tech there was setting up his external mifi type device and disables the feature. He likely did this when he connected the device to the laptop to configure it. Windows 7 prompts you in such cases he clicked on the DON'T BOTHER ME NO MORE option.
Once i enabled / automatic the setting under the services page, it was all GOOD!
thanks again!!
GO LAKERS! BACKTOBACKTOBACK! 2011
I'm running Win 7 Professional and at some point lost all autoplay functions. I did a ton of searches, but none had a solution, even those that had me changing registry values like those Step 4. However, the combination of registry change and deleting one key described in Step 4 fixed my problem. Very grateful for the help!
I tried to do this but I don't have an explorer folder in the policies one…. any way I can fix that?
Same problem here. I made it through every step but do not have an explorer folder under policies in USER or MACHINE.
Any further suggestions?
The NoDriveTypeAutoRun-key can be located under HKEY_USERS”User ID”SoftwareMicrosoft…
Do a search for NoDriveTypeAutoRun in Regedit.