disable autorun (and torrents)

[thefunfairvip]

Every now and again i check the web for updates. Recently an update for XP sp3 was available (KB967715). I googled this for info and found that it was created to turn off autorun in response to this big virus worm problem that uses the autorun to start up and infect your pc.

The instructions on the site indicated that once it was installed I could manually choose which apps I wanted to autorun by accessing Gpedit.msc from the run link in the startup menu.
I have not had any problems with my machine since the installation but I was unable to open this file as it was missing.

I dont know if this update has done any harm but I would sure like some guidance on how to manually alter my autorun settings.
Could you please give me some instructions on the correct method to do this without causing any undue harm.

The other thing is that I've just discovered how to download torrents through Vuse. (This is likely a very nooby question but bare with me), To get the torrent you set up for the new Knightrider series, do I have to list this website in the list of torrent sites before I can download it using Vuse?

Thanx.

Peter the noob!

[Sethioz]

*I edited your title from "disable autorun" to "disable autorun (and torrents)"

First of, you do mean autorun as autoplay when you insert CD/DVD into drive or load an image into virtual drive ?
If this is the case, you simply go to "my computer" - right click your media drive (either real or virtual) - properties - autoplay tab - and there you can choose what to do.
You can also use TweakUI, which is better, because it has all other good features too and it doesnt want installation.

If you mean the startup - when you boot up windows then program/s start automatically, then its different.
some programs install their shortcut into the "start - all programs - startup" folder, which automatically executes all programs inside of this folder, so check that folder and remove ALL from there. You can manually launch programs after your pc is booted up.
Other thing is when programs run themselves thru registry. you can tamper with regedit, but its easier to get CCleaner or HiJackThis. hijackthis is not a malware scanner and it lists VITAL services and programs when you scan, so don't get nutz with deleting. It also lists some things that other tools wont find, so its wise to just scan and look closely what is what (it shows full paths).

Never heard of such torrent program, uTorrent is the best there is. get older version of uTorrent. something 1.6. i never put that into test, but some ppl are saying that newer uTorrent versions send data to developers. so its easy way to get some crap on you if you upload too much of a copyrighted software/s. and you have to set it up with YOUR computer and connection. many ppl ask me what are best settings, no such thing. If you have SUPER pc and you have super fast connection, you can always allow MORE connections and higher priority..etc. with slower pc it will lag your pc very badly and you can't do anything else. so in slower pc you have to set less connections, however you can still keep the download speed..etc. you just have to test and come up with best solution for your pc, depending on how you use your pc.

[thefunfairvip]

Cheers.

The microsoft instructions make such a meal out of something you make sound so straight forward. I got ccleaner, it does a great job.

Basically it was yes to both of your solutions. I happened across a site that gave a program command to manually insert into the registry that would shut off autorun for programs and hardware devices, but i do not have the required skills to mess with that end of things yet.

I will try your suggestions and thanx once again.

[Sethioz]

If it comes to media drive (cd/dvd) autorun, then its always better to follow one of those guides which tell you how to do it in register, but its not necessery.