In case were not already aware of it, custom USB keys manufactured by USB Canada can support a function know as ’AutoRun’. This feature is something which most standard retail flash drives do not offer.
This feature allows your preloaded data such as a presentation or website to launch automatically whenever the user plugs the custom flash drive into their computer. The AutoRun works by the addition of an extra file to the root of USB key named "autorun.inf".
If you require USB Canada to preload your data files for you, then it would be our pleasure to setup the AutoRun function for you.
Why use AutoRun?
A perfect example would be for those of you using USB flash drives as a marketing tool to distribute content through .PDF or powerpoint files. In these cases, the AutoRun function can be configured to ensure that your documents load instantly when the user plugs in the flash drive. Some companies prefer to AutoRun a Flash or HTML menu to aid navigation around the various documents stored on the flash drive.
Things to note:
The standard PC autorun.inf will not work on Macs. Some companies prevent flash drives and CDs from Auto-Running on company computers by making changes to each computer’s registry as a security precaution (our experience that this is very rare). When some users plug in their custom USB flash drive, security software may ask them whether they want to allow the drive to AutoRun. They just need to click ’Yes’ and the AutoRun will launch as normal.
1. Website Autorun
You provide us with a website address and we’ll have the USB’s link directly to the URL provided. When the USB is plugged in it will take the user directly to your specified web page. This is a perfect way to direct customers to your website.
2. File Autorun
Auto-run allows you to choose one file on your USB flash drive that you want to load or install every time the USB drive is plugged into the computer.
Autorun Advisory
Microsoft recently released an general update which may affect the way the Autorun functionality in certain ways for USB drives. Please read our 03/04/2011 blog post for details.
*Please read the original Microsoft security advisory for this Autorun update.
Autorun Patch Update
If you regularly perform Microsoft updates on your computer and would like to reverse the recent update that disables certain functionalities of the Autorun function, you may install an Autorun patch update from the Microsoft website that will allow your computer to resume previous usage of the Autorun function on your computer.
*Please note that auto-runs will not work on Macs and some PCs with very high security settings. Auto-runs are deletable.
