Configuring AutoPlay Settings

There's one last program default type of operation that you can configure to run your way. I'm talking about Windows' AutoPlay settings-what Windows does when you insert a particular type of media, or attach a given device.

For example, what do you want to have happen when you insert an audio CD in your computer's CD drive? Do you want to play the CD, and if so, using what media player program? Or do you want to automatically rip the CD to your hard drive? Or do you want to do nothing-and be prompted every time you perform this operation?

That's what AutoPlay is all about. You can configure Windows to automatically perform the operation you select, using the program you select, every time you insert media or connect a device. It's a real time-saver, once you do the initial configuration.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Open the Windows Start menu and select Default Programs. (Alternately, you can also open the Control Panel and select Default Programs from there.)
2. When the Default Programs window appears, click Change AutoPlay Settings.
3. When the AutoPlay window appears, pull down the first item list and select an action.
4. Repeat step 3 for all listed media and devices.
5. Click Save when done.

For example, when you pull down the list next to Audio CD, you see a number of different possible actions-Play Audio CD Using Windows Media Player, Play Audio CD Using iTunes (if you have iTunes installed), Import Songs Using iTunes, Open Folder to View Files Using Windows Explorer, Take No Action, Ask Me Every Time, and so forth. If you always want to play a CD using WMP, select that option. If you always want to rip a CD to your iTunes library, select the Import Songs Using iTunes option. If you don't want to do the same thing every time you insert a CD, select the Ask Me Every Time option. You get the idea.

You'll need to make this choice for each type of media and device listed, from audio CDs and DVD movies to all the devices you've installed on your system-digital cameras, iPods, and so forth. Once you get it set up, however, you won't have to be bothered every time you insert a disc or connect a camera; Windows will know what to do.

To use AutoPlay whenever you insert or connect media or a device, check the Use AutoPlay for All Media and Devices option.