CD-ROM May Not Run Automatically in Windows NT 4.0

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

SYMPTOMS

When you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, it may not be run automatically in Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000.

CAUSE

The Autorun.inf file and the programs it is designed to run may not run when you are logged on to Windows NT as a user without either Power User or Administrator rights.

By default, only users logged on to Windows NT with Power User or Administrator rights are allowed to install software. In Windows NT, files with the .inf extension are considered Setup Information files. As a result, the Autorun.inf file is not initiated if you do not have Power User or Administrator rights.

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, log on to Windows NT as either a Power User or Administrator.

MORE INFORMATION

When a CD-ROM is detected, Windows NT is notified that a new volume is available and the drive is checked for an Autorun.inf file.

In Windows 2000 a user that is not a Power User or Administrator is prompted with an "Install Program as other user" message when the CD-ROM autorun is processed.

For additional information about the Autorun feature and disabling it in Windows NT, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q155217 How to Enable or Disable the CD-ROM Autorun Feature

Q164115 Play Button Unavailable When CD Is Reinserted in CD-ROM

Q153981 Error Message: Windows Cannot Find Autorun.exe

Q126025 Preventing Windows 95 from Playing Audio CDs Automatically

Additional query words:

Keywords : NTSrvWkst
Version : WINDOWS:2000; winnt:4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbprb