Autorun.inf, what is it?©

                                                 

Autorun.inf, what is it? 

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 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 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.

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 environments.

The icon that will represent your application's CD or DVD when the drive is 

viewed with My Computer or Explorer.

Menu commands displayed when the user right-clicks the CD-ROM icon from 

My Computer or Explorer.

A simple Autorun.inf example

[Autorun]

Open=autorun.exe

Icon=autorun.ico

How to create Autorun.inf?

1. Open Notepad.
2. Type commands.
3. Then Go File > Save As > save as type [All Files (*.*)] > File name: 
   
   Autorun.inf.
4. Select Location & Save.