USB Memory Stick opens folder view 1

[CondorMan]

Hi everyone

I have XP Pro SP2 and use a USB memory stick on most days. When I insert it, a folder view opens showing the contents of the USB memory. I want to disable this because I prefer to browse to the drive from within Word, Excel etc. I looked into the properties of the USB removable drive then the AutoRun tab. I checked the options and set it to do nothing if mixed files are present. It's interesting to note that there's also an option to open the memory into Windows Explorer.

Having set it to do nothing, I closed the folder view, stopped the device then inserted it again. It still opened a folder view so it didn't retain the setting to do nothing!

How do I disable this? I still want AutoRun to work for CDs and DVDs so disabling it completely isn't an option for me.

Thanks for your time and patience.

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;812003&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

There should be a hidden folder created when you change the View settings.

My guess: you need to increase the number of Folder customizations preserved by Explorer.

The easiest way to do this is using TweakUI.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

What happens when the default setting of 400 customizations is exhausted, is that XP begins a FIFO process of removing entries and applying the default. You need to increase the reserved space in the registry to allow XP to write a valid desktop.ini file to the device that reflects your Folder customization.

My guess.

 

[micker377]

Go to My Computer and right click on the drive, click on properties, Autoplay tab, chose "don't take any action, let me choose. Now when you put the stick in, the computer will ask you what you want to do with it.

 

[bcastner]

Micker377,
If the device is in fact autoplaying, all bets are off. Look in the root of the drive for any autoplay named file with any extension. Delete them.

 

[CondorMan]

Thank you for the prompt suggestions.

I tried your suggestion (micker377) and it didn't make any difference!

I also looked at your suggestion (bcastner). There are no hidden files - just Word and Excel files and the properties of each don't have an AutoRun option. I even took a brand new USB memory stick out of the box and inserted it. It opened a folder view and told me what I knew already - it's empty!

It seems that there's some setting on my laptop that's causing this behaviour but I have no idea where. Does this additional information give anyone any clues as to how I can resolve this? I know about TweakUI but I like to know the settings (registry or otherwise) that it's applying, hence the request here.

 

[bcastner]

Ramesh, MVP has a good discussion of the registry entries involved. You can do this using regedit and not use TweakUI:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/folderviews.htm

 

[micker377]

That's strange, somehow we aren't communicating. Default setting was to open the stick to file view. Following my directions, you are given a choice of selection to:
Play Media Files
Open to Folder View (his setting)
3 more choices.
At the bottom of the box is a radio button "Prompt me each time to choose an actiom". Click on this one, and each time you insert the stick, you can cancel and open the program you wish to use to access the stick.

 

[bcastner]

micker377,

Why should this autoplay option menu be presented on inserted of the USB pen drive?

 

[CondorMan]

Good morning

Yes micker377 - I did that exactly and it still opens the folder when I insert the USB pen drive again.

bcastner's question is the one that I need to be answered!

I appreciate that some may feel it useful for the folder to open, but I don't want it to happen.

Thank you once again for your input to this perplexing problem.

 

[CondorMan]

I managed to resolve the problem by adding an entry in the registry. Details are at

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1142/

The default value is 149 so I set it to 151 which stopped the USB pen drive opening a folder view when I inserted it.

 

[bcastner]

CondorMan,
Nice job.

For those whose HEX math skills are rusty, use TweakUI from Micorosft. The settings are under My Computer, AutoPlay.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

 

[micker377]

First post = "USB memory stick"
Last post = "USB pen drive"

I thought these were two different types of hardware. ???

 

[bcastner]

micker377,

I see the distinction you are drawing. It is likely that the memory stick would be expected to use AutoPlay, and the pen drive not, in a normal install.

 

[CondorMan]

Oops - probably my mistake! I see that the term "Pen Drive" crept into the thread and I assumed that it was synonymous with the unit that I've been talking about. The unit that I've been using is a 32MB USB Memory Stick. I use it rather than a 3.5in floppy or CD (or DVD) RW as it's much more convenient.

I suppose that it's largely academic, as the behaviour of the unit is as I want it now.

 

[bcastner]

I am giving micker377 a star, as it is important to distinguish devices that XP will automaticly assign AutoPlay, and those it will not.

Nice job.

And CondorMan, your approach was perfectly apt. As I said above, TweakUI is easier for the HEX and registry challenged.

Bill

 

[micker377]

Thanks, Bill. I was actually just looking for clarification in my own mind. The way computer terms change day-by-day, I thought I might be off base.

 

[bcastner]

No, thank you micker377.

Bill

 

[HingWah]

Hi, I'm just reading this thread and I'm having the same problem as CondorMan when inserting a Memory Stick drive. How can I get it back autoplay with the default setting (prompting what action to take) instead of just disabling the autoplay on that drive.


TIA

 

[CondorMan]

Try looking at the site which I referenced on 28 January. You'll need to go into the registry and it worked for me. Get back to me if you need any more help - I can but try!

 

[HingWah]

Yes, I did went to on that site which you referred. But by doing that... It will disable (151) the autoplay on the removable media, which I have enable it, using value 145. I thought disabling "No root directory" in autoplay will fix this, setting value to 147. But still opens up the Windows Explorer.

I don't know you can follow me what I'm saying... I don't explorer to show up.. but I still want the autoplay feature on. Also, this problem seems to only be shown when drive it's empty.


TIA