How can “Install or run program from your media” be disabled?

Question

Recently something in Windows 7 has changed such that the default action for removable drives has become Install or run program from your media instead of Open.

I checked the AutoPlay control panel applet and everything is set to Take no action (in fact, the master check-box Use AutoPlay for all media and devices is cleared as well).

I also searched through the CLSID key in the register and could not find it in any of the Shell keys, so I figure it must be in one of the ShellEx keys.

Finally, I searched for information on this, but found nothing on how to disable (or better yet, remove) that option and revert the default action to Open.

Answer 1

I found the solution by deleting the following registry key (where X is the letter assigned to the volume in question):

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints2\X

Answer 2

NONE of this worked for me. What I did instead was regedit search for "Install or run program from your media, and then regedit found two instances of that in Mountpoints2 as mentioned above.

Next for each CLSID (sp?) I deleted the "Autorun" folder-looking entry.

This made the default action change to OPEN immediately (no logout or reboot needed).

EDIT: I should add that after doing the above, my problem came back again. I found out that a disc emulation app, Daemon Tools, was creating this registry entry again with each new run or mount of a disc image, whichever the case.

I then went into Control Panel | Autoplay and toggled everything off again, uncheckmarked "Use AntoPLay for all media and devices, and changed some drive (volume) letter assignments so they weren't being swapped back and forth every time I put some new media in, USB flash drives for example.

Answer 3

Similar to DiableNoir's advice, if that didn't work out for you, please try the following:

• Open the Run dialog (Windows key + R), and type gpedit.msc

The Local Group Policy Editor appears.

• In the left Pane, Expand Computer Configuration
• Expand Administrative Templates, under Computer Configuration
• Expand Windows Components under Administrative Templates
• Click AutoPlay Policies

In the AutoPlay Policies pane:

• Double-click the Set the default behavior for AutoRun list option
• In the corresponding dialog that appears, on the left, click the Enable button
• Down the bottom of that window, under Options, select Do not execute any autorun commands from the dropdown menu.
• Click OK.

Restart your computer.

Answer 4

I've seen such problems yet. I've tried your listed methods, and without result.

The shortest way was to run Kaspersky Internet Security and start "Vulnerability Scan".
It found that 'autoplays' of CD/DVD, USB drive, HDD and network disks are enabled and disabled them.

Answer 5

Just delete this registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoplayHandlers

This will reset all Autoplay settings for all media. You should now be able to change the settings. The dialog control panel / Default Programs should create a new key. (So it's safe to delete that key.)

Please note that administrators can create policies which deactivate Autolplay. If you are using the Professional/Ultimate/Enterprsie-Edtion of Windows and your are a administrator, you should also check the Local Policies:

Answer 6

I also faced this problem and could not find any solution for this problem online.

Here is the way I got it corrected. Since I believe this problem is associated with drive letter of USB, changing the drive letter should help. Follow these steps :

1. Connect USB and go to disk management (right click computer - > manage -> Disk management under storage group)
2. Right click on USB drive letter and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths.."
3. Click on change - > select other drive name except which you already had
4. Click Ok
5. Yes for the warning

Boom !! Try your USB, error resolved ...!

PS : If you want to use your USB for any electronic media(TV, Car music etc.), make sure that format of pendrive is NTFS.

Answer 7

I found the problem was to do with the 'Shell Hardware Detection' Service.

It was disabled on a Server I had issues with. no need to change registry or anything. As soon as i enabled and started the service, the default option was 'Open'.