When you insert removable media (such as a CD or a flash memory card) into a drive, or when you attach a removable drive to your computer using a USB or Firewire connection, Windows XP checks its AutoPlay settings to see what to do next. That can be annoying if Windows decides to do something other than what you prefer. Fortunately, the fix is easy.
For permanently attached devices that hold removable media, such as a CD/DVD drive or a flash card reader, you can make changes any time, regardless of whether any media is in the drive. Open My Computer and right-click the drive icon under the Devices with Removable Storage category. Click Properties, and then click the AutoPlay tab.
Each time you insert a CD or other media type, Windows analyzes its content and uses the AutoPlay setting for that type of content. (If it can’t figure out what the content is, it uses the generic “mixed content” setting.) You’ll need to define the action for each type of content. You might want a DVD movie to play in one program, for example, and use a completely different program to automatically begin ripping tracks to your hard drive whenever you insert a music CD. (Third-party programs can add themselves to the AutoPlay menu with their own specific actions.)
If you prefer to decide what to do with each new CD, DVD, or flash card on a case-by-case basis, you have two choices:
- For each type of content, select the Prompt me each time to choose an action option and then click Apply. With this setting in place, you’ll see a dialog box listing all defined actions for that type of content. You can pick one or click Cancel.
- For each type of content, select Take no action from the list of available options and then click Apply. This setting tells Windows to do absolutely nothing when it detects a new CD or other media containing the specified content type.
AutoPlay settings apply to removable drives as well, including USB and Firewire hard drives and music players that appear as hard drives. You must attach the device and right-click its icon to set AutoPlay options for it,
Ed Bott 
I’m sure you know this already but you can use TweakUI to add more programs to that list. For example, I added Winamp so that it would appear for audio CDs and music files.
What about if you want to enable it again, but going through the AutoPlay tab doesn’t help?
Armando, you should give Tweak UI a try. It can probably help you out in this situation.
I have some music files on a USB hard drive that I wanted to share out. Thing is XP wouldn’t remember that I was sharing the folder once you unplug the drive. I wrote a batch file to use net share to create the share, and Tweak UI let me add this as an AutoPlay handler. I recommend it.
That’s very odd, Ryan. I have a USB drive on my Media Center machine that holds music files and some recorded video. I have to power the drive off every time I restart the machine and then power it back on after the computer has finished its POST routine. I’ve never lost the share. I haven’t a clue what’s really going on, though!
I used to be able to right click on my DVD drive and click on the option Auto-play. Now it no longer appears as an option. Do you know how I can bring back that option?
Nick T.
What was the settings you use to add WinAmp for audio CDs?
I’m not so worried about music files, but it might help too.
No need to use TweakUI to add Winamp for Audio CDs.
Open Winamp, then: Options->Preferences (or press ) Now General Preferences-> File Types and check the box to the upper right “Launch Winamp for Audio CDs”
If that doesn’t work or you still wanna use TweakUI:
Open TweakUI, then: My Computer->Autoplay->Handlers and you get a dialog window where you can Create New Type. Check the ‘CD Audio’ box at the bottom, Click “Change Program” and browse to winamp.exe. The same for “Change Icon”. In args type “%1”
yaizzer
oops.
The command got lost:
To open Winamp Preferences, press [ctrl][p]
When i put in a blank dvd, autoplay pops up but there are no options, makes me crazy.
to the guy that asked what to do about auto play missing when you right click, it’s also in right click properties
I have a problem with autoplay on a newly instaled XP machine where it pops up unasked on a CF reader drive with no card in it… How can I get it to stop popping up. There’s no media in that drive so it shouldn’t look. If I put a CF card in the drive the issue stops.
When I connect my cameras the box with the program options doesn’t appear nor is it available in properties when I click on the camera in My Computer. The photos are available by using Open or Get Pictures.
The problem started about 3 months ago and effects other Removable Drives – Buttons on the scanner etc.
The auto play function just isn’t working on USB connected drives.
Help would be greatly appreciated, Alister