How to Remove “Autorun.inf” from Your System?

Autorun.inf is the main instruction file which is associated with the function of Autorun. It is basically a simple configuration file which is text-based and commands the OS regarding various functions such as which icon needs to be used, which extra menu commands to make available and which executable needs to be started. That is, it provides information to Windows about opening a presentation and treating the CD contents.

Rarely, the autorun.inf files will be created by pirated software which will damage the computer system completely. Few of these create new autorun files and if available in a pen drive or CD, they can infect the computer with viruses. Most of the anti-virus software’s are unable to delete those malware autorun files. To delete the virus, you have two ways.

Firstly, you can use the software that is created for this purpose only. That is, to eliminate the file ‘autorun.inf’ from the PC. Secondly, you need to manually delete the virus.

METHOD 1

Superb software called ‘Autorun Eater’ is available for the current purpose. It is not anti-virus software, it is just an application that detects and eliminates the virus in real time before executing the autorun.inf file. The primary features of autorun are:

a)  Scan the autorun.inf file completely in real time and clean the suspicious ones present in the root directory of all the drives C-Z.

b)  The scan priority will generally be set to high or normal.

c)  The results of scan will be recorded.

d)  In the startup entry, Add and Remove.

e)  You have 3 registry fixes that are optional: Folder, Task Manager and Regedit options.

f)  When a peculiar autorun.inf file is found, the user is notified immediately.

g)  The backup copies of the file are created before deleting the original file for easy recovery.

h) An icon by name ‘Status tooltip’ is present which helps in getting the information about the tools easily instead of right clicking on the tray icon.

i)  The option ‘Close Autoplay’ helps in preventing the execution of the malware through the Autoplay window and hence is the most important button.

METHOD 2

This method involves deleting the virus from the USB drive. The following steps need to be followed:

1.  Connect the USB drive when the PC is Off.

2.  Insert the Windows CD-ROM to the CD drive which is a Windows Installer that can be booted.

3.  Switch on the computer and start it from the CDROM drive. This will start the Setup screen of Windows. As soon as the prompt “Welcome to Setup” appears, hit”R” to go to the Recovery Console.

4.  If it appears as” Which installation of Windows would you choose to log on to”, choose a number. Type “1”, and then press Enter, only if a single Windows installation is available.

5.  This action will take you to the command prompt, C:\Windows>

Continue with the below commands:

A.  Type d: (It is the USB’s drive letter, It could be f: or e: which depends on the number of CD drives or hard disks installed to the computer.)

B.  Type attrib -h -r -s autorun.inf

C.  Then, type “edit autorun.inf. This command will open the DOS editor and it displays the following contents.

==========================
[autorun]
open=file.exe
shell\Open\Command=file.exe
shell\open\Default=1
shell\Explore\Command=file.exe
shell\Autoplay\command=file.exe
==========================

Note: Make a note of the file which is to be opened. Here, the file is ‘file.exe’

6. Close the DOS editor and retreat to the command prompt.

7. The file that you have noted down has to be deleted: Type del /f /a file.exe

8. Now, the file ‘autorun.inf’ needs to be deleted: Type del /f /a autorun.inf

9. Now, close the Recovery Console by clicking on Exit.

Use either of these methods which you think is better. Ultimately, the aim is to eliminate the virus, which is the solution to your problem.

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