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

SYMPTOMS

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

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.

For more information about the Autorun feature and disabling it under Windows NT, see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID : Q155217
TITLE : How to Enable or Disable the CD-ROM Autorun Feature

ARTICLE-ID : Q164115
TITLE : Play Button Unavailable When CD Is Reinserted in CD-ROM Drive

ARTICLE-ID : Q153981
TITLE : Error Message: Windows Cannot Find Autorun.exe

ARTICLE-ID : Q126025
TITLE : Preventing Windows 95 from Playing Audio CDs Automatically

Keywords          : NTSrvWkst 
Version           : WINNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: January 16, 1999