Auto-Run Maker

An Auto-Run CD-ROM is one that starts automatically when it is put in the CD drive. There are several way of making an Auto-Run CD-ROM. You can use specialised software, you can create the required files yourself, or (much the simplest) you can use the free files available here. These files enable you to make an Auto-Run CD that will automatically start a PowerPoint show, HTML document, Adobe Acrobat file, Quicktime Movie, Windows Video, Exel spreadsheet, or plain text file.

Instructions

1.	Download Version 3.0 autorunmaker30.zip 27KB (27,809 bytes, contains autorun.inf and autorun.exe) 27 June 2008
2.	Unzip to the folder of your choice.
3.	Save a copy of your PowerPoint show, HTML document, Adobe Acrobat file, Quicktime Movie, Windows Video, Exel spreadsheet, or plain text file with the name "Autorun."
4.	Burn the CD with all three files: The one you saved (for example Autorun.pps for a PowerPoint show), Autorun.inf, and Autorun.exe. The three files will look something like this, depending on the version of Windows that you are using and how you have set up folder views: Make sure all three files go into the root folder of the CD-ROM. This means straight onto the CD-ROM, not in a folder on the CD-ROM. (Make sure you use the .inf and .exe files that you downloaded and unzipped. Don’t use just any old files that happen to have the same names.)

Auto-run from a memory stick

A memory stick cannot easily be made to auto-run without any user interaction, but Auto-run maker verison 3.0 provides the next best thing for Windows XP SP2 and higher: the auto-run option appears at the top of the dialog when you insert your memory stick.

Helpful hints

• Windows can show or hide filename extensions. Change this setting from My Computer » View » Folder options » View. Check or un-check "Hide file extensions for known file types." You may want to show filename extensions to make it easier to identify the three files needed.
• If you are making a PowerPoint Autorun CD, you must save your PowerPoint as a show, not as a regular PowerPoint file. From PowerPoint choose File » Save As... and select PowerPoint Show. This will save your presentation with a .pps extension suitable for use with Autorun.

Technical point

When your CD is placed in the CD drive of a Windows computer, Autorun.exe looks for files named Autorun with the following extensions:
    .pps
    .html
    .htm
    .pdf
    .mov
    .avi
    .xls
    .txt
in that order. It launches the first one it finds on the list. If there is no file called "Autorun" with one of these extensions, then it runs any file it can find with one of these extensions. This means you do not have to call the file "Autorun". For example, if you want to run a file called MyMovie.mov, you would put Autorun.exe, Autorun.inf, and MyMovie.mov in the root folder of the CD ROM. (If you plan on having only one auto-runable file in the root folder you can call it anything you like, but if you plan on having many auto-runable files in the root folder you need to call one of them "Autorun" so that you can be sure which one will actually run.)

Copyright

AutoRun Maker is written by Chris Hilder. It is Freeware and can be copied without restriction. Although not required, including acknowledgement or a link to HilderBuild.co.nz with copies is appreciated.

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