What’s Autorun?

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AutoRun is a scheduling system used in some versions of the Windows operating system (OS) that allows the system to automatically install a new program for the user. This is in contrast to early versions of the operating system and some other operating system programs which require the computer user to make an active effort to install a program on a computer. The process is typically used with a compact disc (CD) or other hardware used to install a program onto a computer. AutoRun allows the operating system to detect the presence of an installation on that hardware and then allows you to easily install the program on your computer.

Sometimes used synonymously with AutoPlay, AutoRun isn’t actually the same. AutoPlay was used synonymously in earlier versions of operating system programs, but has since been established as a separate feature that automatically plays media files. AutoRun, on the other hand, works to install programs automatically and does not affect discs or other formats that contain multimedia data such as video and music.

When a device is plugged into a computer that contains a program, such as a CD inserted into a drive on a computer or a flash drive inserted into a computer port, the computer’s operating system will typically detect that device. This causes a device notification to be sent to the operating system, which in turn initiates the autorun process. The process begins with the operating system detecting if AutoRun has been disabled on the computer; if so, the process should go no further.

As long as Autorun is enabled on your computer, the operating system looks for an Autorun file in the root program directory on the media. This file allows the operating system to easily run and install the program. Typically, a notification window will appear on the desktop for the user, indicating that the program will be installed automatically, allowing the user to cancel or approve the installation. Other than that, the user does not necessarily have to interact with the installation, although most programs also provide an End User License Agreement (EULA) which must be accepted and may allow the user to change some aspects of the installation.

Without this kind of functionality in a computer’s operating system, programs have to be installed manually. Some computer users prefer this, allowing them to more easily control when and where programs are installed, and this typically requires little effort. In previous versions of the operating system, however, the benefits of unattended installations were much greater, and the process was introduced to reduce customer support questions related to program installation.

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