How to AutoRun from a USB disk drive in XP?

[senpuppy]

Hi,

I need to distribute my programs in a USB disk. I want to autorun the setup program. I have the Autorun.inf file in the root of the disk. But it doesn't work in XP. In Win2K works fine.

Here is my Autorun.inf:
[autorun]
open=setup.exe

The setup.exe also is in the root folder.

Can somebody please help me?

Thanks
SenPuppy

[Franzblau]

Did you ever solve the autorun problem on USB drive? I would be interested to know.

[Marymead-IT]

Hi guys,

I was looking for a similar solution to your issues and found a helpful link here: http://www.usbhacks.com/2006/10/25/how-to-quick-intro-to-hacking-autorun-for-usb-flash-drives/

From what I understand, USB Autorun is limited on Windows XP for security reasons. Autorun assisted, data theft is one security concern for example. The simplicity of reading and writing to basic USB drives and the reasonable amount of data they can hold makes them an ideal target for this (you could easily move a lot of confidential word files onto even just a 128 MB drive). When the user gets home and plugs their USB drive in, a trojan sends the confidential data to the attacker.

I wanted an automatic backup system for USB drives, so I made the three files attached (in USB backup.zip). Feel free to use and modify my code if it helps (if you can't see the files, it's because they're hidden - open a Windows folder and click Tools, Folder Options, View tab, select "Show hidden files and folders", click OK).

1. Autorun.inf (a small configuration file with autorun information)
2. backup.bat (my program/script)
3. backup.ico (a pretty icon which is displayed in my computer)

While this doesn't result in my program being executed as soon as the user plugs the drive in, it adds running my program to the list of options presented when the drive is plugged in. (see attached screen shot, USB Autorun screen.png)

The link above has some other little tricks if you want true Autorun.

Hope that helps.

Regards,

Chris Fry

[Marymead-IT]

Also, for anyone who stumbled accross this forum looking for a free backup program for their USB drive (or backup program for thumb drive for the search engines), download the zip file and extract it to the root of your USB drive.

It will create a folder in your system drive (normally C: ) called "USB Backup 0707" and copy the contents of your USB drive there when you run it.

(If you can't see the files, it's because they're hidden - open a windows folder and click Tools, Folder Options, View tab, select "Show hidden files and folders", click OK)

[venkateshr006@g]

Hi,

I need to distribute my programs in a USB disk. I want to autorun the setup program. I have the Autorun.inf file in the root of the disk. But it doesn't work in XP. In Win2K works fine.

Here is my Autorun.inf:
[autorun]
open=setup.exe

The setup.exe also is in the root folder.

Can somebody please help me?

Thanks
SenPuppy

Hi,
i have same problem but i got solution only for xp & higher...
that is.. create one autorun.inf file..
[autorun]
open=filename.exe
icon=filename.ico
lable=heading
action=hai
shellexecute=filename.exe

its run only xp but not run in win98,2000
if u got any solution for this please send to me..
[e-mail]

all the best.. do well...