My computer is running Windows XP. Every time I insert a CD or DVD or install a USB flash drive it presents a list of options, including Open folder to view files and Edit pictures. I want to do my own thing via Windows Explorer, so is there any way to turn off this list, or modify it so that it has options that I can use.

Answer

This feature is called AutoPlay. You can use Microsoft's TweakUI utility to turn it off.

Visit this page to obtain TweakUI for Windows XP, which is part of the PowerToys:

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

Click the + beside the My Computer category in TweakUI, and then click the + beside AutoPlay. Select the Types category. It presents the enabled options, which are Enable AutoPlay for CD and DVD drives and Enable AutoPlay for removable drives [USB flash drives, etc.) Remove the check marks in their boxes to disable AutoPlay for those types of drives.

To modify what each option does on the AutoPlay list itself, or remove and entry, select the Handlers category.

If you want a specific AutoPlay option to be selected automatically, the setting for each device has to be set individually by clicking on the entry for the device (e.g., a DVD drive) with the right mouse button in My Computer, and then clicking Properties. The settings are under the AutoPlay tab.

You can choose the listed options to set for a number of categories of files, such as Music files, DVD movie, Music CD, etc.

Note that you may have to activate the Removable Storage service in order to make the changes stick.

To do that follow this clicking path: Start => All Programs => Administrative Tools => Component Services => Services (Local). In the right window, scroll down to Removable Storage. Double-click on it. Under Startup type, you can choose the Manual or the Automatic option. Choose the latter option.

How to disable Autoplay in Windows Vista

At the time of writing (March 2009), TweakUI and the other Powertoys were not available for Windows Vista. They probably never will be. However, you can make use of a free/paid-for product called TweakVI for Windows Vista:

http://www.totalidea.com/product.php?Product=TweakVI

Alternatively, you can disable Autoplay manually as instructed on this page:

Disable AutoPlay in Windows Vista -

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/...

At the time of writing (April 2010), there was no AutoPlay Repair Wizard for Windows Vista or Windows 7, but there are these pages:

Troubleshoot [Vista] AutoPlay problems -

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/...

Troubleshoot AutoPlay problems [Windows 7] -

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/...

Computer diagnostics: How to solve or fix common desktop and laptop PC problems

To diagnose and troubleshoot specific and general problems with Microsoft's software (Windows 95, 98, Me, XP, Vista, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express) using the MS Knowledge Base, visit the Diagnostics page on this site.

Click a relevant link below to visit the information it describes on this website:

1. - Recovering and repairing Windows XP when a computer crashes or fails to boot

2. - Recovering and repairing Windows Vista when a computer crashes or fails to boot

3. - Windows Vista problems: How to fix problems with Windows Vista

4. - Recover, restore and repair Windows 7 (Win7) when a computer crashes or fails to boot

5. - Windows 7 problems: How to diagnose and fix problems with Windows 7

6. - Windows XP: How to troubleshoot and fix shutdown, restart (reboot), and startup problems

7. - Typical DLL (Dynamic Link Library) device driver problems

8. - Software problems: How to fix problems with Windows, programs, and utilities

Also visit the Software pages on this site for more information on specific software-related information and problems.

9. - Motherboard and power supply problems: How to fix common problems with faulty motherboards (mainboards) and power supplies (PSUs)

10. - RAM memory problems: How to fix problems with the Random Access Memory

11. - Hard disk drive problems: How to fix computer hard disk drive (HDD) problems

12. - CD/DVD drive problems: How to fix problems with CD and DVD drives and discs

13. - Processor problems: How fix common processor (CPU) problems

14. - Video/graphics card problems: How fix common computer video and graphics problems

15. - USB and FireWire problems: - How to fix common USB and FireWire problems

16. - Network problems: How to fix common wired and wireless networking and internet problems

17. - Laptop/notebook problems: How to address or fix the most common laptop/notebook problems

How to fix problems with device drivers in Windows XP and Windows Vista and Windows 7

Although the information on the following page is specific to Windows XP, much of the advice is relevant to the earlier versions of Windows. Click here! to read Troubleshoot Device Driver Problems. Click h ere! to go to Tips for fixing common driver problems in Windows Vista. Those tips should also be applicable to Windows 7.

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Visit the Build a PC page for information on how to build a desktop PC and solve self-build problems, and visit the other pages, such as the Video/Graphics, Sound, Motherboards, and Monitors pages for more problem-solving information, all of which can be accessed via the menu items and jump menu on the orange navigation bar, or via the site search engine at the top of each of the main pages.

The Tips & Tricks pages of this site contain additional useful tips, tricks, and problem-solving advice.

The safest way to upgrade RAM memory: Use the UK and US Crucial Memory Advisors

Paul Mullen, who was the highly-respected computer guru of the Helpfile at ComputerShopper.co.uk - "I have recently been buying my memory only from Crucial Technology. I would rather pay the extra cost than waste time trying to track down the obscure program faults that bad memory can cause."

The best way to choose RAM memory for a brand-name desktop or laptop computer, or memory for a particular make/model of PC motherboard is to make use of the Crucial Memory Advisors (provided under the brief guideline on the minimum memory requirements for Windws XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7). If the Crucial memory you receive does not work, you are guaranteed a refund and standard shipping is free.

The memory requirements of the versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7

Most of the versions of Windows Vista require more RAM memory to run optimally on a computer that doesn't use memory-hungry applications than Windows XP. A video-editing application is an example of memory-intensive software. Only Windows Vista Home Basic has a recommended minimum amount of memory of 512MB, which is the same amount recommended for Windows XP. Windows Vista Home Premium, the most popular version, and Windows Vista Ultimate require a recommended minimum of 1GB (1024MB) of memory, which is twice the amount of minimum memory recommended to run Windows XP. Note that if you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, up to 4.0GB, it requires twice the amount of memory as a 32-bit version, which can only use a maximum of about 3.5GB. For more information on computer memory, read the RAM pages of this site, which includes information on the lower memory requirements of Windows 7.

UK - Crucial Memory Advisor - UK

USA - Crucial Memory Advisor - USA

How to Use the Crucial Memory Advisor

For example, if your computer has an Asus motherboard, open the menu, scroll down to ASUS, and click GO. If, say, you have a Dell computer, scroll down to DELL, and do likewise. You will be taken to the relevant information on Crucial's website.

If you don't know the make and model of the motherboard installed in your computer, here is a good free utility - Belarc Advisor - that creates an analysis of the hardware and software on a personal computer. Look under FREE DOWNLOAD - http://www.belarc.com/. Another utility that also provides detailed information on the memory itself is CPU-Z.

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