Hello,
I am new here, so I apologize if this is in the wrong place. I am trying to create a flash drive that will automatically open and display a presentation or video when inserted into a computer, whether it is Microsoft, Apple, or Linux.
I am not a marketing spammer. I am not selling anything. I am a disabled man, turning 45 next month, and I have some wisdom that I would like to share with my [younger] friends. I hope you can help me.
Basically, this user describes what I am trying to do (this was posted in a forum on the 'net):
"I got this flash drive and it came with a PDF file on it which automatically opens when you plug it in, which is extremely annoying. So I deleted the PDF file off of the flash drive, but it still opens somehow. So I decided to format the drive, but that still didn’t do anything! Even though there are no files on it, (yes I changed the settings to show hidden and system files) it still opens the PDF automatically as soon as you plug it in!"
The only difference in my application is that I would be opening some type of narrated presentation slide type of file, such as a PowerPoint or video file.
Thank you for any advice that you can give me.
Best regards,
~Antonio
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Sorry in advance that I can't offer to much in the way of help or encouragement. Unfortunately, I think you're in for a tough time. Having things "auto-run" is generally frowned upon because it poses a security risk, so most operating systems these days try harder to prevent or completely block this type of thing.
My only thought would be to try to mimic the U3 approach, whereby a USB drive contains a partition that is made to look like a CD-ROM disc (including being read-only), but even then operating system typically gives the user an opportunity to not automatically run "CDs".
Somebody else might be able to give you more definitive guidance. Honestly, you might be better off thinking about putting your presentation on the web, and if you prefer it not to be publicly available then just password protect it. I almost guarantee there are sites out there that will let you do this kind of thing for free. Then you simply need to distribute a "business card" with the relevent info on it.
Darkbee is absolutely right - there is no such thing as a method for getting a program or file to autorun on all Windows-based systems.
But for systems before Windows 7 you may get presented with a box offering either to run the autorun (file, application, whatever) or open the drive in Explorer so all it takes is a double-click or two - unless, ofcourse, that the user has turned off all autorun features (as I always do on my systems). Also, many antivirus and similar security programs blocks autorun files.
Just google up "make autorun" and you'll get a dozen articles and pages describing how it's done.
As Darkbee mentions, the best solution would be a "U3"-drive - I know that Sandisk has released a tool to modify their U3-drives' menu system to fit custom needs.
What you also need to consider is how the file should be played/run - if you do a Powerpoint, the users will need MS Office or at least a powerpoint viewer installed; a movie would need to be in a format most movieplayers can play like avi or mpeg, and so on.
A solution using a presentation (even a Powerpoint) you can use the portable OpenOffice.org Impress, which you can find here on the page (it's part of Portable OpenOffice.org), and using the autorun guides mentioned you could modify the standard PortableApps autorun text file to start Impress with the file loaded. There is an OOo Impress extension to help with this I think: http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/en/project/ImpressRunner
Or consider doing the same but use a CD or other read-only media - these are way better supported when it comes to accepting autorun.
As Darkbee mentions, the best solution would be a "U3"-drive - I know that Sandisk has released a tool to modify their U3-drives' menu system to fit custom needs.
You got a link for that? SanDisk stopped making U3 compatible devices a couple of years ago and the only tool they had that I was aware of was one to remove U3 from the device.
Ed
Not quite the same thing but, This tool was originally posted on these forums by ottosykora. If it does half the things it claims then it could be pretty useful. I don't know if AlleyKat has something else in mind but that's what I was thinking of for messing with U3-like stuff. Presumably there are generic tools out there that allow you to do similar things.
In addition to the removal tool SanDisk also provided a utility to re-install the U3 system. It was even possible to run the installer and make it install an alternate ISO file instead of the real U3 one.
https://portableapps.com/node/2174 describes it. Ok, it's a hack of the installer but nonetheless it works, and the software is even Win7 compatible.
But you are right, they are no longer in production. Doesn't mean you can't get them, thou:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Cruzer-Micro-Smart-Flash/dp/B000F2YHSY/r...
Windows 7 DO NOT offer to open autorun.inf file of flash drives anymore. Only windows XP do it.
As I also stated, that is correct - for Windows 7 and Server 2008. But not only XP offers to open autorun files - also Windows Vista, Windows 2000 and even old win98 does the same thing.
And if you simply dump the application side of it, you could just fill the device with .JPG (or most other formats) picture files - and any newer Windows will willingly offer to open them in a viewer, in a slideshow or import them to your system.
Thank you EVERYONE for the reality check. I know this is possibly not do-able, but I at least want to try. I would like to have a flash drive(s) that I can hand out freely. Then people would put it in their pocket, take it home and plug it in. Hey, what about some sort of JPG slide show? Even PS3s and TVs play those, right?
Juan Antonio Dominion
Why, HTML files!
There will be come subtle differences on different browsers, but as long as you avoid Flash and stick to DHTML, you can make some pretty sophisticated presentations.
You can make it pretty simple for the users by putting the start.html file in the root, and everything else inside another folder.
I'm sure that every user's computer will have a modern browser, and have HTML files associated with it.
Just remember to only use relative links, and when you are developing it, make sure it works in both Internet Explorer and Firefox (and Safari, is you have access to a Mac). IE tends to be the biggest pain in the tuckus, because it doesn't follow web standards, but it shouldn't be a major obstacle.
I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.
That *is* a smart idea. I did find a company who told me that they make this type of flash drive, and it must be 'wired in' to the drive. So, I'm going to see how much they charge, but this is a good backup. Thank you!
Juan Antonio Dominion