|
DADDY BOB'S COMPUTER Q & A
October 4, 2009
Q.
Can I control what happens when I insert
different kinds of CDs and DVDs, and if so,
how?
A.
Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 all allow
you to set the action that will occur when a
CD or DVD is inserted but in Vista and
Windows 7 it is a little easier to do and
understand.
In XP,
open My Computer and right click on the CD
or DVD drive, click on Properties then the
AutoPlay tab and this dialog opens.
If you click on the little down arrow, you
are given the choice of these different
types of content.
If you check "Select an action to perform",
then depending on which type device you
select, you will be given a variety of
actions that will take place when you insert
a CD or DVD. There is also the choice to
"Prompt me each time to choose an action".
In Vista and Windows 7 these settings are
accessed from the Control Panel. However,
before I go there, I must comment on a
default setting in all Windows since XP that
I believe to be very confusing and totally
unnecessary relating to the Control Panel.
That is the "Category View." To me, all this
does is add an extra step and tends to hide
items making them harder to find. OK, maybe
it makes things clearer to some, but not to
anyone that I have worked with.
In Vista or Windows 7, open the Control
Panel, and click on Classic View in the top
left corner, and then click on View and
select Medium Icons. If you don' see the
menu press the ALT key to display it. Now
that all the items are listed alphabetically
and have identifiable icons that are easy to
find, click on the AutoPlay icon and this
dialog opens.
On the left is a list of the various types
of media that can be used and on the right
is the action that will be taken for each.
Clicking the little down arrow to the right
of the action displays all the possibilities
for that type media. Here there are many
more actions possible including to "Ask me
every time", and it is selectable for each
type media.
As can be seen, there are many more choices
in Vista and Windows 7 and I believe setting
them is easier to do and understand since
all are visible at the same time. |
