Windows XP TechTip #11 >> Disable Autoplay

Autoplay is one feature heavily exploited by USB drive virii.

So the usual scheme we deal with it is to disable the autoplay feature using the group policies, which, sadly, is NOT available to XP Home users.

Even so, simply turning off autoplay from the group policies isn't enough because explorer's "autoplay" context menu is still active.

Consequently, double-clicking the infected USB drive from My Computer still executes malicious scripts from the infected flash drive and in the end, your computer still gets infected.

Here's a fool-proof way to totally KILL the autoplay feature.

It works for XP Home users as well.

1. Create a blank text file then paste the following to it.

---

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:000000ff

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer]
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:000000ff

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\Autorun.inf]
@="@SYS:DoesNotExist"

---

2. Save the file as a registry file (e.g. KillAutoPlay.reg) or you can just download the file from this link.
3. Double-click the .reg file.



4. Select "Yes". Hit Enter.

Goodbye autoplay!

That's it... ^__^