Is there any way to force a system to launch an app from a pendrive?












1















I need to write an app that will be launched after plugging in a pendrive without the user interference. 
(The app will be on the pen drive.) 
I know that Windows blocks the autorun.inf execution because of the security (I can't even add a position to the AutoPlay (?) menu, which would be enough for me). I have been reading that, in case of CDs, autorun.inf is launched, and pendrives with U3 system can emulate CDs, but I don't know what drive will be used. (In detail – I write a program that, after doing some operations on drive, is to be launched after plugging or even clicking a position in that dumb menu. And no, it's not related with viruses, data deletion or something like that.) I thought, that maybe there is any way to fit some little program or something in the NTFS, and force system to run it, but as I researched for the NTFS file system I found out that it's probably impossible.



I am looking for a solution that works on all computers
(i.e., not requiring a specific configuration)
running any version of Windows. 
I am not as concerned about versions earlier than Windows Vista,
as those versions support autorun.inf.










share|improve this question

























  • Are you trying to auto-launch a program on the pendrive, or the program is on the computer and the pendrive is just the trigger? Is this supposed to work on any computer or a specific one?

    – fixer1234
    Jan 29 at 23:51











  • If you’re specifically interested on one particular version of Windows, please say so. Please do not respond in comments; edit your question to make it clearer and more complete.

    – Scott
    Jan 30 at 0:10











  • @Scott corrected

    – D. Zaradny
    Jan 30 at 15:30
















1















I need to write an app that will be launched after plugging in a pendrive without the user interference. 
(The app will be on the pen drive.) 
I know that Windows blocks the autorun.inf execution because of the security (I can't even add a position to the AutoPlay (?) menu, which would be enough for me). I have been reading that, in case of CDs, autorun.inf is launched, and pendrives with U3 system can emulate CDs, but I don't know what drive will be used. (In detail – I write a program that, after doing some operations on drive, is to be launched after plugging or even clicking a position in that dumb menu. And no, it's not related with viruses, data deletion or something like that.) I thought, that maybe there is any way to fit some little program or something in the NTFS, and force system to run it, but as I researched for the NTFS file system I found out that it's probably impossible.



I am looking for a solution that works on all computers
(i.e., not requiring a specific configuration)
running any version of Windows. 
I am not as concerned about versions earlier than Windows Vista,
as those versions support autorun.inf.










share|improve this question

























  • Are you trying to auto-launch a program on the pendrive, or the program is on the computer and the pendrive is just the trigger? Is this supposed to work on any computer or a specific one?

    – fixer1234
    Jan 29 at 23:51











  • If you’re specifically interested on one particular version of Windows, please say so. Please do not respond in comments; edit your question to make it clearer and more complete.

    – Scott
    Jan 30 at 0:10











  • @Scott corrected

    – D. Zaradny
    Jan 30 at 15:30














1












1








1








I need to write an app that will be launched after plugging in a pendrive without the user interference. 
(The app will be on the pen drive.) 
I know that Windows blocks the autorun.inf execution because of the security (I can't even add a position to the AutoPlay (?) menu, which would be enough for me). I have been reading that, in case of CDs, autorun.inf is launched, and pendrives with U3 system can emulate CDs, but I don't know what drive will be used. (In detail – I write a program that, after doing some operations on drive, is to be launched after plugging or even clicking a position in that dumb menu. And no, it's not related with viruses, data deletion or something like that.) I thought, that maybe there is any way to fit some little program or something in the NTFS, and force system to run it, but as I researched for the NTFS file system I found out that it's probably impossible.



I am looking for a solution that works on all computers
(i.e., not requiring a specific configuration)
running any version of Windows. 
I am not as concerned about versions earlier than Windows Vista,
as those versions support autorun.inf.










share|improve this question
















I need to write an app that will be launched after plugging in a pendrive without the user interference. 
(The app will be on the pen drive.) 
I know that Windows blocks the autorun.inf execution because of the security (I can't even add a position to the AutoPlay (?) menu, which would be enough for me). I have been reading that, in case of CDs, autorun.inf is launched, and pendrives with U3 system can emulate CDs, but I don't know what drive will be used. (In detail – I write a program that, after doing some operations on drive, is to be launched after plugging or even clicking a position in that dumb menu. And no, it's not related with viruses, data deletion or something like that.) I thought, that maybe there is any way to fit some little program or something in the NTFS, and force system to run it, but as I researched for the NTFS file system I found out that it's probably impossible.



I am looking for a solution that works on all computers
(i.e., not requiring a specific configuration)
running any version of Windows. 
I am not as concerned about versions earlier than Windows Vista,
as those versions support autorun.inf.







windows usb-flash-drive autorun






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Jan 30 at 16:27









Scott

15.8k113990




15.8k113990










asked Jan 29 at 23:35









D. ZaradnyD. Zaradny

84




84













  • Are you trying to auto-launch a program on the pendrive, or the program is on the computer and the pendrive is just the trigger? Is this supposed to work on any computer or a specific one?

    – fixer1234
    Jan 29 at 23:51











  • If you’re specifically interested on one particular version of Windows, please say so. Please do not respond in comments; edit your question to make it clearer and more complete.

    – Scott
    Jan 30 at 0:10











  • @Scott corrected

    – D. Zaradny
    Jan 30 at 15:30



















  • Are you trying to auto-launch a program on the pendrive, or the program is on the computer and the pendrive is just the trigger? Is this supposed to work on any computer or a specific one?

    – fixer1234
    Jan 29 at 23:51











  • If you’re specifically interested on one particular version of Windows, please say so. Please do not respond in comments; edit your question to make it clearer and more complete.

    – Scott
    Jan 30 at 0:10











  • @Scott corrected

    – D. Zaradny
    Jan 30 at 15:30

















Are you trying to auto-launch a program on the pendrive, or the program is on the computer and the pendrive is just the trigger? Is this supposed to work on any computer or a specific one?

– fixer1234
Jan 29 at 23:51





Are you trying to auto-launch a program on the pendrive, or the program is on the computer and the pendrive is just the trigger? Is this supposed to work on any computer or a specific one?

– fixer1234
Jan 29 at 23:51













If you’re specifically interested on one particular version of Windows, please say so. Please do not respond in comments; edit your question to make it clearer and more complete.

– Scott
Jan 30 at 0:10





If you’re specifically interested on one particular version of Windows, please say so. Please do not respond in comments; edit your question to make it clearer and more complete.

– Scott
Jan 30 at 0:10













@Scott corrected

– D. Zaradny
Jan 30 at 15:30





@Scott corrected

– D. Zaradny
Jan 30 at 15:30










1 Answer
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No, there is not. AutoRun was the only method of instructing a Windows computer to load software when any type of digital media was inserted, and correctly, due to very real security concerns, this was modified and disabled. The OS will read the disc and offer the user some options for viewing the content safely.



If there was a work around, you that virus and malware makers would be the first people to make use of that, so there is no workaround.



If you are on a managed domain you could write a task or script that checked for certain criteria and then ran a file, and because it was initiated by a trusted part of the system (the Task Scheduler, for instance) that should work. But without a method of getting such a policy and configuration to the computers, you are out of luck.






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    1 Answer
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    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    2














    No, there is not. AutoRun was the only method of instructing a Windows computer to load software when any type of digital media was inserted, and correctly, due to very real security concerns, this was modified and disabled. The OS will read the disc and offer the user some options for viewing the content safely.



    If there was a work around, you that virus and malware makers would be the first people to make use of that, so there is no workaround.



    If you are on a managed domain you could write a task or script that checked for certain criteria and then ran a file, and because it was initiated by a trusted part of the system (the Task Scheduler, for instance) that should work. But without a method of getting such a policy and configuration to the computers, you are out of luck.






    share|improve this answer




























      2














      No, there is not. AutoRun was the only method of instructing a Windows computer to load software when any type of digital media was inserted, and correctly, due to very real security concerns, this was modified and disabled. The OS will read the disc and offer the user some options for viewing the content safely.



      If there was a work around, you that virus and malware makers would be the first people to make use of that, so there is no workaround.



      If you are on a managed domain you could write a task or script that checked for certain criteria and then ran a file, and because it was initiated by a trusted part of the system (the Task Scheduler, for instance) that should work. But without a method of getting such a policy and configuration to the computers, you are out of luck.






      share|improve this answer


























        2












        2








        2







        No, there is not. AutoRun was the only method of instructing a Windows computer to load software when any type of digital media was inserted, and correctly, due to very real security concerns, this was modified and disabled. The OS will read the disc and offer the user some options for viewing the content safely.



        If there was a work around, you that virus and malware makers would be the first people to make use of that, so there is no workaround.



        If you are on a managed domain you could write a task or script that checked for certain criteria and then ran a file, and because it was initiated by a trusted part of the system (the Task Scheduler, for instance) that should work. But without a method of getting such a policy and configuration to the computers, you are out of luck.






        share|improve this answer













        No, there is not. AutoRun was the only method of instructing a Windows computer to load software when any type of digital media was inserted, and correctly, due to very real security concerns, this was modified and disabled. The OS will read the disc and offer the user some options for viewing the content safely.



        If there was a work around, you that virus and malware makers would be the first people to make use of that, so there is no workaround.



        If you are on a managed domain you could write a task or script that checked for certain criteria and then ran a file, and because it was initiated by a trusted part of the system (the Task Scheduler, for instance) that should work. But without a method of getting such a policy and configuration to the computers, you are out of luck.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Jan 30 at 18:22









        music2myearmusic2myear

        31.2k858100




        31.2k858100






























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