Recently, I connected a device to my windows Vista computer, and without paying much attention to the autoplay prompt, I just selected any setting so I could get moving on not realizing what I selected. Now every time I plug the device into my computer, nothing happens. How can I change the autoplay setting or option from no action to play when I connect the device to my computer?
When connecting devices, such as USB drives or inserting a CD or DVD into Window Vista, Autoplay will display and prompt you to select a default action or setting. Like many people, including myself, we usually do not pay attention to the selection, and become stuck with that action. Fortunately, you can bail yourself out of the selection and change the autoplay option.
Click on the Start button and in the start menu search box, type auto and press enter, or if search does not find Autoplay, click on Start \ Control Panel \ Default Programs \ Change Autoplay settings
Listed are all the possible media and devices along with their default or changed autoplay settings. With each media or device, is a pull down (arrow) that allows you to modify the autoplay action. For example, if you wanted Media Player to start for all Video files, click on the arrow next Video files, select Windows Media Player then click on Save:
Browsing around, you will notice different options exist for other devices and media. Some of the common settings to choose from are Take no action, Ask me every time, and Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer. After making changes, make sure you you click Save to save the new setting.
If you want to disable Vista's Autoplay completely, uncheck the Use AutoPlay for all media and devices located at the top of the Autoplay window:
To disable autoplay for one device or media, locate it from the list, and select Take no action from the pull down list.
Unlike Windows XP, pressing the SHIFT key when inserting media or connecting a device does not by-pass Vista's Autoplay, but instead, opens AutoPlay regardless of the default setting.
If Autoplay does not start after inserting media or when you plug in a device, but does work for other media and devices, follow the below steps as a possible solution:
- Click the Start button \ All Programs \ Accessories, and then right-click Command Prompt.
- Click Run as administrator.
- At the command prompt, type net start shellhwdetection, and then press ENTER.
- Restart your computer
Comments on How To Change Autoplay Default Setting Or Option In Windows Vista
Unless I have missed something this only enables use of those programs that appear when you drop down the program options for each category. What I want to do is add an option to that list. For example under the Devices heading the drop down for Digital Video Device offers me the alternative of importing video files with Nero Vision or Windows Media Import. I do not want to import with either. I want to do so with Sony Vegas. For the sake of argument I may also want to import with Pinnacle or Ulead. The question is how do I get that choice into the AutoPlay options?
Is there an answer to this dilemma?
Following on from Rays question i want to know the same thing. WHen i open the Autoplay window and go to devices, my Nikon D300 is available on the list with four options. None of them is the option i want. I need to add download with Adobe Bridge. How do we do it?????
Ben
Ben Clarkson
It seems that no third party utility exist to change Autoplay options (other than defaults) in Vista.
Other than contacting the hardware vendor, one thing you might want to try is to set "Ask me everytime" in Autoplay for the device and see if you can set it to the option you want after connecting the device. No guarantees, but it's worth a try.
i would like to know why is it that everytime i made a movie it won't let me add music why?
I would like to remove options involving "Windows Backup" and "Windows Readyboost" which are programs I don't use. There doesn't seem to be anyway to eliminate these from displaying, unless someone out there has invented a clean up app.
My autoplay doesn't have ANY devices listed there anymore. When I used to plug in my USB, autoplay would open but now it doesnt and since there is no device listing, I can't change the settings for it. I tried the "net start shellhwdetection" thing but it says "denied error 5"
what do i do to make autoplay work for all my devices again?
I loaned my laptop to someone (major mistake) - when I got it back I noticed in the autoplay defaults selections I now have a new item - the guys name and ipod. I see no way to delete this from my list of default choices. Do you have a solution?
THANK YOU!!