I'm trying to get my Portable Apps Manager (PAM) to auto run on insertion.
I've created an autorun.inf and all instructions I've inserted are working except the one for PAM. Any Ideas an what I'd doing wrong? Here's the file I've created:
[autorun]
open=PortableApps\PortableAppsMenu\PortableAppsMenu.exe
action=StartPortableApps
icon=Documents\USB.ico
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Auto Run PAM
November 26, 2006 - 10:30am
#1
Auto Run PAM
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There's one included in the package that's verified to work. Why reinvent the wheel? Keep in mind that autorun from USB is only enabled by default on Windows XP SP2.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Where is it? I couldn't seem to find it unless you what you meant was the StartPortableApps.exe
By default, it's marked hidden. It's in the same directory as StartPortableApps.exe. If you set Windows to show hidden files, you'll see it.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I found that if the USB Flash Drive is marked as Removable it will never Autorun. I'm having the same issue with a PNY Attache' 2gb USB Flash Drive. It will not autorun.
It does by default in XP SP2. I've tested it myself. And, by autorun, I mean that XP asks you if you'd like to start PortableApps Menu.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
The autorun doesn't work for me either. Mr. Haller, your telling us it just works, well I'm telling you it just doesn't. Help us, please.
Then your computer is set not to autorun from the type of drive you have. Oddly, some PCs are set this way even though it is not the default behavior of Windows XP SP2.
This can be altered within the registry (but I don't recommend this for the non-techie). So, you'll have to browse to the root directory and run StartPortableApps.exe to start it for now.
If there's interest, I can put together a simple utility to run on your own computer to enable/disable auto-run on different types of drives (removable, cd, etc) by updating these registry values.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
This would be greatly appreciated, as I'm running a U3 drive also, and would like my other drive with Portable Appps menu to auto run too.
U3 uses a fake CD partition to autorun (which is also what causes its problems with CD burning software like Nero's InCD, etc)... so it autoruns a bit differently than the method used by PortableApps Menu.
Personally, I recommend disabling CD autorun on all of your own PCs for security reasons (Sony secretly installed a rootkit on computers from an audio CD using autorun as an example). Autorun for CDs is disabled by default on Vista and hopefully will be in all future releases of Windows.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I agree with not allowing CD's to auto run. But sure would like my USB with PAM to auto start. As is it just opens an explore window (call me LAZY, but would prefer just auto run the app)
I would be interested in this utility. I think the problem is that, when asked over and over again (before I had PAM on my drive) what I wanted to do I selected an action, and always perform that action. Open the folder for viewing on my home PC, and do nothing, on my communal work PC. The utility may be helpful but I think I will try and find a way to change that already set preference as well. Thanks for your help. Sorry if I sounded like a jerk in my last post. I love what you've done and am happy to know I don't necessarily need to run out and buy a brand new U3 smart drive (although I know they do different things).
I don't know if this fix will work for the original poster, but Mr. Haller you were (I believe) correct, which makes sense since you are, I noticed, listed as the author of many of the files in the Portable Apps suite. I was running into trouble because I had previously selected an autorun handler to be used every time I plugged in my USB drive, in my case, open the folder for viewing files. This is what needed to be reversed. I went to the device manager, uninstalled the driver for my USB drive, and without unplugging and replugging the drive back in, the autorun dialogue box popped up shortly after reinstalling my drive with the first option being to start the Portable Apps Suite. The only thing I noticed is that the check box to select that this action be performed every time does not come up.
Gotta love these forums where great minds can troubleshoot and solve problems.
I did the same thing you suggested and, while it FINALLY gave me the option to start up the PA, It didn't give me the option to make it the default action. Well at least it was one step in the right direction, but a utility that WOULD make the PA start up as an autorun, would be greatly appreciated.
"That's Just My Opinion, I Could Be Wrong"
"That's Just My Opinion, I Could Be Wrong"
I had just posted this Topic Yesterday evening, but today it didn't showed up in the forum. I must of did something wrong or just don't know where to look properly.
I also would like a simple fix for this autorun feature. It's the only thing lacking... yet still PAM has made me put my U3 SanDisk into retirement. PAM needs an Auto-start Launcher to blow U3 away. Thanks for the good work. -Lindsey