OT Auto run CDs on the PC

[Richard Gaskin]

Jeffrey Reynolds wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Just wondering if folks had an opinion about auto running multimedia 
> applications on CD-ROMS on windows. It was the rage in the hay days of 
> CD-ROMs, but then seemed to peter out. We still get feedback from PC 
> users that they cant figure out how to find the cd and the application 
> on a cd when inserted on a windows machine. in the past we have done 
> printed blow-in instructions with the cd on how to go to my computer to 
> pull up the cd.
> 
> The auto run is obnoxious in my opinion. the popup window on xp allows 
> you to open the cd in windows explorer, but its a confusing list for the 
> non computer savvy. the other rub is there are other files like the read 
> me and lesson plans on the cdrom that the user might want to get at and 
> with auto run they have to quit the app to do that.

The auto-run feature in Windows represents a serious security hole, one 
that Mac OS closed after QT v2.0.

That said, it's become so prevalent that I find if I don't use it 
customers call our tech support wondering why nothing happens when they 
put the CD in.

With any Windows CD-ROM deliverable we make here, we have a simple menu 
application in the root directory that's auto-launched on startup, with 
buttons to display any Read Me or other files, and of course a button to 
install/run the main app.

Yes, it's silly and for end-users it's potentially dangerous. And yes, 
without it your customers will be confused and your tech support will go 
through the roof.

--
  Richard Gaskin
  Managing Editor, revJournal
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