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In a previous Instructable, I went over this quickly and did not explain it very well. I was asked to make a full Instructable on Autorun.inf files, and here it is.
An Autorun.inf file is a file that, when placed on a drive (internal or external), will allow the drive to start programs, have a different icon than the standard boring one (LOTS OF FUN TO MESS WITH), and have a different name. The syntax is "option=value". Examples will be given later on.
Continue if you want to learn more.
ANOTHER UPDATE ON PAGE 4
An Autorun.inf file is a file that, when placed on a drive (internal or external), will allow the drive to start programs, have a different icon than the standard boring one (LOTS OF FUN TO MESS WITH), and have a different name. The syntax is "option=value". Examples will be given later on.
Continue if you want to learn more.
ANOTHER UPDATE ON PAGE 4
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Signing UpStep 1A Basic Autorun File
In this step, we will make a basic, do-nothing Autorun file. All that will change is the name of the USB drive, and the icon that goes with it.
Open Notepad (or Notepad++ or what ever you use) and type the following:
autorun
icon=NAME.ico
label=NAME
BEFORE YOU SAVE IT!
Where it says autorun, insert brackets around the word. I cannot type this in the Instructable, as it the Instructable creating software would turn the word into a link. Refer to the picture for the correct format.
Here is what you typed:
autorun: This states that this is an Autorun file, and what follows describes what the drive will look like and how it will act.
icon: This will change the icon of the drive (in the "My Computer" screen) to a custom one that you choose. The picture you choose must be an icon file (it must have the extension ".ico"). You can get pictures of that format from http://www.iconarchive.com/ and many other websites.
label: This will change the name of the drive to whatever you choose, as long as what you choose does not contain too many characters.
OK. Save the file to the main directory on your drive ("My Computer, Removable Drive X"). Eject the drive, then plug it back in. If you saved it to an internal hard drive, you will have to restart the computer.
If you are adding an icon to the drive, you will need to have an icon file to go use. An icon file is NOT a picture you got off the internet. It must have the extension ".ico". If it does not, then it will not work. Place the icon in the same directory as the Autorun file. Once you have done this, go back into the Autorun file and change the line that says icon=NAME.ico to have the name of the icon (keep the part that has the ".ico".
Open Notepad (or Notepad++ or what ever you use) and type the following:
autorun
icon=NAME.ico
label=NAME
BEFORE YOU SAVE IT!
Where it says autorun, insert brackets around the word. I cannot type this in the Instructable, as it the Instructable creating software would turn the word into a link. Refer to the picture for the correct format.
Here is what you typed:
autorun: This states that this is an Autorun file, and what follows describes what the drive will look like and how it will act.
icon: This will change the icon of the drive (in the "My Computer" screen) to a custom one that you choose. The picture you choose must be an icon file (it must have the extension ".ico"). You can get pictures of that format from http://www.iconarchive.com/ and many other websites.
label: This will change the name of the drive to whatever you choose, as long as what you choose does not contain too many characters.
OK. Save the file to the main directory on your drive ("My Computer, Removable Drive X"). Eject the drive, then plug it back in. If you saved it to an internal hard drive, you will have to restart the computer.
If you are adding an icon to the drive, you will need to have an icon file to go use. An icon file is NOT a picture you got off the internet. It must have the extension ".ico". If it does not, then it will not work. Place the icon in the same directory as the Autorun file. Once you have done this, go back into the Autorun file and change the line that says icon=NAME.ico to have the name of the icon (keep the part that has the ".ico".
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Can v make 2 autorun files in a single pendrive
[autorun]
open=beaboss.exe
action=Be a boss!
icon=HD Box2.ico
label=MurphDrive
Wy won't it run?
You are not allowed to use strange characters in this small batch script.
Thats why it dont works.
[Autorun]
Icon=usb.ico
Open=Portable Apps\StartPortableApps.exe
Action=Start PortableApps
Label=PierreFouquet
although i cannot open the program with it,
my usb is on my F: drive, and the dir of the files is correct, i have made sure, whats wrong?
An autrun file has been created for optical drives like cd-roms and dvd-roms. These days these files are still used to install applications from optical drives and are autrun files on flash drives used only to show manufactorers icons.
you saved me from having to search hours on end :)
no probably just 10 - 20 min of search, but still you saved me time
thanks.
"Ba, too true. As unfortunate as that is." now becomes: Ba, too true (as unfortunate as that is).
As your comment stands, the second sentence: "As unfortunate as that is.", is a fragment.
Have a nice day.
when i plug in my drive it opens the drive contents automatically
it does not show the window like in the first picture PLEASE HELP