- Microsoft programmed Windows to be intuitive, and did so a number of ways. Windows keeps a record of the files you open so it knows which programs run which files, and it also reads auto run files from discs or USB drives to know what to do when specific media is inserted. Most CD or DVD-ROM discs contain an autorun.inf file that tells Windows what to do with the disc: which program to launch, for example. This file is common, almost universal, so you can't stop it from appearing or being detected by anti-virus software.
- Most -- though not all -- security programs scan devices and CDs or DVDs when you connect them to or insert them into your computer. Likewise, most computers assign the CD or DVD drive the letter "D," so the "D:\autorun.inf" is a file that's on a CD or DVD. Known viruses use autorun.inf to enter computers, so security program manufacturers update the virus definition files to include "autorun.inf" as a potentially dangerous file. The trouble is, one bad "autorun.inf" prevents all of the non-threatening files from loading; your virus software is just looking out for you, but this can become troublesome.
- The simplest way to work around the error is to ignore it. With Microsoft Security Essentials, for example, you can just click "Allow" to let Windows process the file normally. With Norton or McAfee products you can set similar exceptions. Only allow files from known, trustworthy manufacturers. If you've just bought a DVD or CD from a company you know, don't be afraid of allowing the file to run.
- Though auto run -- or auto play -- speeds up the process of launching programs from a CD or DVD, it isn't necessary to run those programs. You can disable the feature in Windows, which will stop Windows from loading autorun.inf on any discs you insert into the D: drive. Microsoft has a FixIt automated program to turn auto run on or off -- since the process is fairly complex for basic computer users, and a dedicated support page for auto run programs at Microsoft.com.