Why won't my new USB drive autoplay?

September 30, 2006 8:21 AM

I got a new USB drive, but when I plug it into my computer at work, it does not automatically launch an Explorer window, not does it recognize the autoplay icon I have on there.

I am plugging it into the same port(s) I plugged the old drive into, where all of these things worked as described - window popped up automatically, icon showed in My Computer (same files for autoplay/icon, obviously).

I like the new drive because it is physically smaller and does not block the adjoining port like the old drive. I want to use it (well, will use it, even with these inconveniences), but I would like it to auto-launch and use my icon. This is a Win2K work computer which is centrally controlled, so I do not have access to administrative functions (hell, I don't have access to regedit).

Does the problem lie with the drive, or the computer? I'm inclined to think the drive, since the old one worked fine.

posted by timepiece to computers & internet (8 comments total)

Have the IT people been by recently? One security measure often taken is the disabling of autoplay for CDs and thumbdrives.
posted by zabuni at 9:07 AM on September 30, 2006

The newer device may require a Win2K driver. Try searching Windows Update and the manufacturer's web site for one.
posted by owhydididoit at 9:40 AM on September 30, 2006

If you don't have admin rights, that's probably the issue. Along the lines of what zabuni said, where I work they've locked down certain USB functions and it causes havok with thumb drives (although you'd get an "insufficient rights to install hardware" error where I work.)

Bribe an IT guy with admin rights with some beer and have him log onto your machine and then plug in the drive. There will probably be a hardware install dialog when he/she does that. I'm betting it will work under your logon after that.
posted by Cyrano at 9:50 AM on September 30, 2006

I'd love to get an IT guy to help me out, but that assumes there's one on site - there is not (I work at a very small branch in a large library system). And we don't have any open tickets at the moment to get one here.

To my knowledge, no changes have been made to staff PCs lately - like I said, the old drive worked in this manner last week.

According to the manufacturer, no driver needed. (I know, gimmicky, but harder to lose track of).

Realization - could the fact I haven't named the drive have something to do with it? I can't do that at work (admin rights), but I could once I get home.
posted by timepiece at 11:01 AM on September 30, 2006

Clarification - the drive does work, it just doesn't autoplay - so it's not that the USB ports have been disabled. I can open My Computer and browse the drive, run Portable Firefox, etc., it just doesn't pop an Explorer window up automatically after it's plugged in.
posted by timepiece at 11:03 AM on September 30, 2006

I second zabuni's comment: Autoplay is a security problem that allows spyware to be installed and so it is often disabled on managed systems. Without access to the Registry I'm not sure how you'd re-enable this.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:54 PM on September 30, 2006

Just to make sure, have you tried plugging in the drive, going to My Computer, right clicking on the drive, going to Properties, then Autoplay, selecting Browse w/ Explorer, then checking the Always Do This or whatever the terminology is?

This sometimes helps me. Good luck.
posted by landis at 1:21 PM on September 30, 2006

Crap, just remembered you've got Win2K. I don't know if the option I mentioned above is available on that OS. Still, good luck.
posted by landis at 1:22 PM on September 30, 2006