Autorun from Virtual CDs doesnt work

[stavros0]

HI,
Im trying to get the autorun function to work on an XP pro box using virtual CDs. The Virtual CD's are being held on the network but when i map to the Virtual Drive XP thinks its a network directory, not a network CD...ie if it believed it was a CD drive then it would enable the autorun function. So my questions are:
1. Is there a way to make XP use autorun from a network drive, OR
2. Is there a way to change the directory to believe it is a CD drive.

Any suggestions from the experts will aldo be appreciated.

S

 

[jpm121]

Short answer is, not likely.

In a nutshell, the way the autorun deal works is that when the system detects the CD closing, it sends a command to the Windows API, which checks the drive for an autorun.inf file. This file will contain some parameters and the path to a command that should be run (i.e. \SETUP.EXE). The system doesn't receive this information when a network drive is created, and this is something that's likely not customizeable.

Having said all that...

For a workaround, how about a batch file to map the drive, then run the appropriate EXE file on the shared resource? Something along the lines of:

NET USE Z: \\SERVER\CDROMRESOURCE <with logins if needed>
Z:
SETUP.EXE <or whatever executable you want>

You could put shortcuts to these BAT files on the desktop, in the start menu, or wherever.

This is off the top of my head but in theory should work. Hope this helps, and good luck.