How to make an Autorun CD/DVD

autoruncompact-discdvd

How do I burn .exe files to a CD/DVD so that it will give options which one I want to install when the CD is inserted into the CD-ROM and run the applications on the disc automatically?

Best Answer

You're looking for Autorun.inf entries, you simply create a new file on the root of the CD/DVD/USB and call it "Autorun.inf". You can edit it with any text editor and update it with the parameters you need (see the linked items from MSDN).

From MSDN: Creating an AutoRun-enabled CD-ROM Application

AutoRun is a feature of the Windows operating system. It automates the procedures for installing and configuring products designed for Windows-based platforms that are distributed on CD-ROMs. When users insert an AutoRun-enabled compact disc into their CD-ROM drive, AutoRun automatically runs an application on the CD-ROM that installs, configures, or runs the selected product.

You'll probably mostly just need the Autorun.info Entries link at the bottom of that page.

Example Autorun.inf file:

[autorun]
label=Welcome To My EXE
open=myexe.exe /silent
icon=MyExeIcon.ico

Note: If you have file extensions hidden by default in Windows explorer, it will probably save your file as Autorun.inf.txt, so if it doesn't work - that may be why. To toggle that:

Open Windows Explorer (just navigate to a folder)
Hit ALT on your keyboard
In the menu that appears up top, select Tools > Folder Options
Select the View tab
In the Advanced Settings scrollbox, toggle the checkbox for Hide extensions for known file types.
Double check the naming of your Autorun.* file to make sure it saved correctly.
Once you're done, feel free to re-hide extensions if you prefer that view for normal use.

Related Solutions

Windows – How to check quality of CD/DVD before burning

You need a 3rd party tool for that as you'll need full control over the burning device. I'd recommend qpxTool as it's free (sourceforge prj)
Adding this for a better understand...

What can I do with QPxTool?

With QPxTool you can measure the quality of CDs and DVDs, if your hardware supports these features (supported drives). Further you can take full advantage of the special Plextor writing features (like GigaRec, VariRec, PowerRec, AutoStrategy).

and:

It is the Open Source Solution which intends to give you access to all available Quality Checks (Q-Checks) on written and blank media, that are available for your drive.

Windows – How to Make an Autorun CD /DVD with multiple .exe files

There are several ways to do this. this can't be done with the autorun.inf alone.

You could create a batchfile open.bat and instruct autorun.inf to run that:

file autorun.inf

[autorun]
open=open.bat

file open.bat

my_first.exe
my_second.exe

But you'll notice the .exe will run simultaneous. If that's not desired you could use the following:

file open.bat

start /b/wait my_first.exe
start /b/wait my_second.exe

You will have the black window open of the batch-file during the installation.

Another option is to use a separate program to execute your .exes.

One such option is AutoRun. (not free)

Here is another (AutoRunPro.exe also not free)

And another one (AutoRun Wizard, again not free).

I'm beginning to think there are no free option (besides making a batch-file yourself).

There is another possibility (and more professional looking). That's to use Inno Setup to write your own setup-file. In that setup-file you can execute the other .exes.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Windows – How to check quality of CD/DVD before burning

Windows – How to Make an Autorun CD /DVD with multiple .exe files

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