Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay action

by Greg Shultz | Jun 13, 2007 12:00:00 AM

Tags: Greg Shultz, Windows XP Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: AutoPlay can be fickle when it comes to determining the default action for opening files from your flash drive. Here's how to configure Windows XP to bypass AutoPlay and automatically launch Windows Explorer when you insert your flash drive.

If you have a USB flash drive holding various Windows XP files, you may want to configure the drive to automatically open Windows Explorer rather than display the AutoPlay dialog box.

You can select the Open Folder To View Files In Windows Explorer and select the Always Do The Selected Action check box but that only configures the flash drive for one file type. Here's how to configure your flash drive to open Windows Explorer for all file types at the same time:

1. Insert your flash drive into the USB port.
2. When you see the AutoPlay dialog box, click Cancel.
3. Open My Computer, right-click your flash drive icon, and select Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog box, select the AutoPlay tab.
5. Perform the following steps for each item in the Content Type drop-down list:
   - Select an item in the Content Type drop-down list.
   - Choose Select An Action To Perform in the Actions panel.
   - Select the Open Folder To View Files In Windows Explorer action.
   - Click the Apply button.
6. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

Now use the Safely Remove Hardware feature to remove your flash drive -- wait a moment and plug it back in. You'll see the AutoPlay progress appear momentarily, and then you should see Windows Explorer open to show the contents of the flash drive.

Note: This tip is for both Windows XP Home and Professional.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

This doesn't workalohatim  | 06/14/07

Works great for mewinlak  | 06/14/07

Sweet deal!rbardy@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionlaxnaik@...  | 06/14/07

Almost works perfectly...nahkit_cj@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionjacobk@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionvr4spyder@...  | 06/14/07

What seems obvious . . .rpost@...  | 06/14/07

Not obvious because it doesn't give optionsalohatim  | 06/14/07

Silly Questions?ThumbsUp2  | 06/15/07

Not sillyalohatim  | 06/15/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actioncaptainjimmy@...  | 06/14/07

Exactly! (nt)ThumbsUp2  | 06/15/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionbryan.coleman@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionjerzystransfer@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionBrian G  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actiondavdun75@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actiontechproguild@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionjohn_j_p@...  | 06/14/07

That's what I want too.derek.newsbox1@...  | 02/14/08

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionrob.easton@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionremjoe@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actiontinoy66@...  | 06/14/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionprkimmel  | 06/14/07

Twek UIalohatim  | 06/17/07

Tweak UI did not help getting autoplay to work on a removable driveprkimmel  | 06/18/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionamraza50@...  | 06/18/07

No chance of a virus.Fablanta  | 06/27/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's default AutoPlay actionthemaestroofemail@...  | 07/21/07

RE: Permanently set Windows XP's Windows Explorer as your flash drive's defDeeDux  | 02/14/08