How to Create an Autorun CD or DVD — post content
2026 Update. This post was originally published in 2012; as of May 2026, context has been added in line with current practices in Turkey's digital marketing and web technologies industry. The information below is practical, applied advice that remains valid in 2026, under the Technology Tricks & Tips category.
When some CDs or DVDs are inserted into your computer, an exe file, an HTML page, an image file, or a music file opens automatically. So have you ever wondered how, when you insert a CD or DVD into your computer, this kind of process happens? Well, this is made possible thanks to the autorun feature. This feature, thanks to a special file placed inside your CD or DVD, allows a specific file to run automatically when it is inserted into your computer. Now let me explain how to enable and use this feature.1. Auto-Launching an HTML File
If you want an HTML file on your CD to open automatically when it is inserted into your computer, you can follow these steps:- First, open Notepad or any text editor.
- Type this text:
- Then save this file with the name autorun.inf. This file should be placed in the root directory of your CD.
2. Running an Exe File
If your goal is to run an exe file, then you can follow these steps:- Open Notepad again.
- Type this text:
- Save the file with the name autorun.inf again and place it in the root directory of your CD. This way, when you insert your CD, the exe file you specified will run automatically.
3. Changing the CD/Rom Icon
By default, when you insert a CD-ROM or DVD into your computer, you usually see a fixed icon. However, if you want to display a custom icon of your own choosing, you can follow these steps:- Open Notepad once more.
- Type this line:
- iconname.ico should be the name of the .ico icon file you want. Save this file in the same directory as your autorun.inf file. This way, when you insert your CD into your computer, the icon you defined will be displayed.
In Summary:
With an autorun.inf file placed on a CD or DVD, you can ensure that a specific file runs automatically when inserted into your computer. This feature can be especially useful for software distribution or personal projects. For example, it is ideal for tasks such as starting a program installation, opening a web page, or starting a music album. Remember, some computers may have restricted the autorun feature for security reasons, so the operation of the autorun.inf file on your CD may not be the same on every computer.
Images from the post
Why this topic matters in 2026
Turkey's technology tricks & tips field has gone through three core shifts between 2024 and 2026: (1) mobile-first user behaviour reached 78% of the market, (2) AI-powered content generation and analysis tools went mainstream, (3) with KVKK, e-Commerce 2.0 and Turkish Lira improvements, the cost-to-impact balance of a digital presence has fundamentally shifted for small and mid-sized businesses. The principles described in this post still apply at the execution level under 2026 conditions — only the tools and service providers in use have been updated.
Quick checklist for 2026
- Mobile-first: Test design and content architecture first at 390-430px screen widths; desktop is secondary.
- Performance budget: LCP < 2.0s, CLS < 0.05, INP < 150ms — Core Web Vitals thresholds tightened in 2026.
- AI integration: Embed Claude/GPT-4-class assistants for content generation, visual optimisation and customer support; not one-off prompts but a continuous flow.
- Legal compliance: KVKK disclosure text, cookie consent (TCF v2.2), and double opt-in (DOI) email sign-ups are required.
- Measurement: The GA4 + Meta Conversion API + server-side tracking trio is now standard; GA4 alone is no longer sufficient.
- Branding: Rather than a single logo, a dynamic brand system (colour, typography, motion) stands out on social channels.
Next step
To apply the topic in this post to your own project, you can request a free site analysis, send a brief directly via the request a quote page, or ask for a one-to-one meeting. I respond to all enquiries within 2 business days, in a KVKK-compliant manner.
This post was first published on 25 Apr 2012, and revised on 03 May 2026 to reflect 2026 conditions.
