Creating an Autorun file

This document explains you how you can form an autorun inf file. It further elaborates on the customization of the icon text and icon menu. 

When we insert a CD, we find that the files on it can be run automatically. This is a utility provided to the users by Windows. However, before we can use it we need to verify if it is enabled on our system. Running a file automatically saves a lot of effort and time. This article gives us an insight into creating such a file and customizing the icon text and menu. 

 Windows provide users with simple utility that runs automatically applications found on a CD, when inserted in the CD drive. 

To make use of this option, you must verify that it is enabled under your system configuration. If it is the case, upon inserting a CD or DVD,Windows will try to open an application.This procedure is due to the "Autorun.inf" (primary instruction file associated with the Autorun utility) found at the root directory of the CD. 

 First create a new (text-only) file and name it as autorun.inf.; once created, open it with your favorite text editor (notepad) and type in the following syntax: 

Basically it should be like this : 

 If the selected application is found in a sub folder, the path must be specified: 

If an argument is to be passed for the application to be auto played: 

If you want to change the default icon add the following syntax: 

icon=icon.ext

Example:

[autorun]

The icon file should also reside in the root directory of the CD. 

Simply add the following command line: 

To edit the menu that appears when you right-click on the icon simply add the following syntax: 

Keep in mind that the following parameters should be defined: shell\*\command and shell\*, as they are the keywords, firstly for defining the application to be executed and secondly, for the text displayed in the menu.

Autorun is a command application which takes automated action during the insertion of CD-ROM etc. 

To disactivate autorun, enter the below command in the registry : 

To disactivate autorun: 

For reactivation: 

(Works on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista)

When updating your Windows XP or 2000, using Windows Update and that you don t want to allow personal data to be transferred, this can be easily achieved by adding a key to the registry. 

Open Registry Editor:

-> Start /Run et type regedit

Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/ SOFTWARE/ Microsoft/ Windows NT/ CurrentVersion 

If the value RegDone doesn't exist, create it by clicking on Edit/New/String Value. 

Double click on the value created and type in 1 in the value field. Use OK to validate. 

Ensure that the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/ SOFTWARE/ Microsoft/ Windows/ CurrentVersion/ Welcome/ RegWiz exist, else create it Edit/New/Key

Close registry editor and restart your PC

No personal data should be transmitted via Windows Update.

Intro:Virtual memory extension

Pagefile.sys is a file that is currently used by Microsoft Windows to store frames of memory that do not currently fit into physical memory. The paging file allows the memory requirement to run all tasks to exceed the amount of physical memory and swapping allows multiple rocesses to run at the same time.

Virtual memory extension:

 This technique below allows you to extend your virtual memory. 

Under Windows XP and 2000, you can clean the file pagefile.sys to improve its overall performance. This can be performed by creating or modifying the REG_DWORD value from 1 to 0 in the registry KEY ClearPageFileAtShutdown. 

This is located under the KEY : 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSessionManagerMemory Management 

To access the above mentioned Key, Go to menu Start> Run and type regedit. 

This modification can surely impact the time needed by Windows need to boot. 

This system file is situated under the root: C:Pagefile.sys