CD-ROM May Not Run Automatically in Windows (173584)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q173584
For a Microsoft Windows XP version of this article, see 314855.

SYMPTOMS

When you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, it may not be run automatically in Windows.

CAUSE

The Autorun.inf file and the programs it is designed to run may not run when you are logged on to Windows as a user without either Power User or Administrator rights.

By default, only users logged on to Windows with Power User or Administrator rights are allowed to install software. In Windows, files with the .inf extension are considered Setup Information files. As a result, the Autorun.inf file is not initiated if you do not have Power User or Administrator rights.

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, log on to Windows as either a Power User or Administrator.

MORE INFORMATION

When a CD-ROM is detected, Windows is notified that a new volume is available and the drive is checked for an Autorun.inf file.

In Windows 2000, a user that is not a Power User or Administrator is prompted with an "Install Program as other user" message when the CD-ROM autorun is processed.

For additional information about the Autorun feature and disabling it in Windows, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

155217 How to Enable or Disable the CD-ROM Autorun Feature

164115 Play Button Unavailable When CD Is Reinserted in CD-ROM

153981 Error Message: Windows Cannot Find Autorun.exe

126025 Preventing Windows 95 from Playing Audio CDs Automatically

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/3/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB173584
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