Double Click on Drive does not open
We all have experienced someday or the other, this problem of Windows XP in which when we double click on the drive it does not open or some dialog box opens up but not the drive. Yes, you know it right; the problem is caused by some virus activity and if you don’t know
how to open this, here is the fix (just make sure that the virus has been removed, else the problem will persist):
When the problem happens, it means that there is a file named “Autorun.inf” in the root drive, but you will not be able to view it as it is a system file. This file is rarely caught by the anti virus. This file makes sure to run the virus and infect your system. This is the file which is responsible to run the dialog box that appears on autoplay. So this is a useless file for sure.
Common sense says to delete this file but even that is not easy as it possesses system, hidden and read only attributes. So,
1. First go to cmd, type “attrib X:\Autorun.inf –s –r –h” without quotes where X is your drive name which is having the problem.
2. Now the file is visible and ready to delete.
3. After deleting the file, close the explorer and open it again or just give a reboot to the computer, your problem is fixed.
Well this is the best and easy fix available without using any software.
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August 5th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Thanks man..
August 12th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
It really worked …. Thanks a lot man ….
August 12th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
coool, gud to know that my tips are coming handy!!
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 am
nice man very thank full of you for sharing this type of cool information keep it up with gud shares
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:42 am
thanks
August 24th, 2008 at 12:05 am
nice work ,but i still have the problem , i have deleted the autorun file and nothing happend
im sure it should work 
August 24th, 2008 at 12:11 am
hey don’t forget you will need to close the explorer to fix the problem completely.For example, if you are fixing pen drive then remove it and insert it again.
August 24th, 2008 at 12:12 am
yaaaayyyy now it has worked
i just have to restart my pc. thx alot man ur the best , im gonna share this information with my friends who needs help .
September 11th, 2008 at 8:30 am
thank you
September 15th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I tried this but got a message saying Path not Found e:\ Any suggestions? Thanks.
September 15th, 2008 at 11:59 am
If the error is Path not found then either the file isn’t there or there is some prob with the command you are giving. Let me know what you typed.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
At the c:\ prompt I type the following attrib e:\autorun.inf -s -r -h. I also tried it with f: since before I plug in the drive Windows Explorer shows no e: or f: drive and after I plug in the drive Windows Explorer shows both e: and f: drives. If I plug in the drive BEFORE booting up the light on the drive will stay solid but still give me a message of Please insert drive. I also tried it with a capital “A” for Attrib just in case it was case sensitive which I don’t think it is. THANK YOU.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Ok, let me tell you another way with which you can watch the file actually. Open folder options and click on “show hidden files and folders” and uncheck the option saying “hide protected operating system files”, now open the drive that contains this file. you will see the file little translucent, just delete it.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Oh! I forgot to mention, open the drive from the address bar.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Thank you again but no luck. Still get the message Please insert disk into drive e: (or f:). Would rebooting help? If so should I reboot with disk in USB slot or not?
September 15th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I don’t think rebooting would help as this is a sure case of your disk not getting detected else the solutions would have helped you. Try getting it detected first and share the solution here.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
this is good
October 20th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
After the attrib command, you can use del command on the command prompt itself….
C:\DEL AUTORUN.INF
January 8th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
good
January 27th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
hi dear,
In my laptop alo i cant open any drive by double click like wat u described above (c and d drive)..but when u told to do tat attrib function its not working and it showing file not found….but still my problem persist..i will show how i typed down.
C:\Documents and settings \shan\attrib C:\Autorun.inf-s-r-h
then the message is coming file not found C:\Autorun.inf-s-r-h
so wat i will do plas help me my laptop now gone slow and and this drive is not opening problem also my antivirus is not removing this also wat i will pls help me……
January 28th, 2009 at 8:18 am
@shan
Hey friend you have to give spaces between the -s, -r and -h extensions so the correct command is attrib C:\autorun.inf -s -r -h
January 28th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
hey it said file not found
January 28th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
it didnt work for me it is saying C:\resycled\htldr.com is not a valid win32 application
January 29th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
u need to remove the error first, see this post
http://techsalsa.com/steps-to-remove-cresycledntldrcom-is-not-a-valid-win32-application-error/
February 21st, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Hey Brother Have Another Problem When I Double Click On Folder It Doesn’t Work And If I Click On Folder 6 Times It Works What Kind Of Problem Is This I Must Click Everything 6 Times Winamp All The Other Programs Dont Work On Double Click P.L.S. Help Me
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Thanks a lot, it really worked. Thanks a tonne. I was going to format the system but you were very helpful.
March 5th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Hey thanks it worked great…
March 12th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Sir, my problem is my pen drive is not showing any folder n files when it opened. In property it just showing the occupied space but not showing any file and also not opened any thing on it. Sir I;m much worried for all that bcoz I’m a research scholar (3 years work with data, calculation) n I don’t hv any backup for my work elsewhere also. So plz help me. So plz help me. So plz help me. So plz help me. So plz help me. So plz help me.
March 12th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Hi ritu, no need to say that so many times, will surely help you.
Don’t worry this can be solved easily. If there is something in the pen drive it will be shown if you do:
1. After attaching the pen drive, go to Tools-> Folder Options-> View tab.
2. Check the button of “Show hidden files and folders” and uncheck the button of “Hide protected operating system files”.
now you will be able to see the contents in the pen drive. Best of Luck.
March 16th, 2009 at 7:56 am
hello…. i have a problem. my computer did not show the hidden files.. i know this a virus problem but how can i solve it.????? pls suggest me if u can……….
March 16th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
read the above comment to see the files and if Folder Options is disabled then re-enable it by this post http://techsalsa.com/enable-the-registry-editor-task-manager-and-folder-options-disabled-by-virus/
April 26th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
when i use the “attrib X:\Autorun.inf –s –r –h” command at command prompt it says—- file not found -C:\Autorun.inf
plz help as i’m stuck at this step…
April 26th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
The command should work fine if you follow the steps. You can also try the comment number 13, made by me dated September 15th, 2008.
May 6th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Thanks a lot buddy!!
June 14th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
hey it said file not found on writing the command in cmd…
June 14th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
@achin
Make sure you enter the correct command and reboot is necessary after it.You can also try the comment number 13, made by me dated September 15th, 2008.
June 14th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
It really worked …. Thanks
June 14th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
hey dude…i deleted the autorun.inf .But i still cannot open the E drive.pleseeeeee help me
June 14th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
@nikhil
Do not forget to reboot the computer, this is important.
June 14th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
plz provide some of the tips to increase the speed of pc…
July 28th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
this error is comming “pameter format not correct” when i prees enter after writing the command
July 29th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
@tarun
check the command you are typing, you may copy paste from above
October 1st, 2009 at 9:07 am
1st method: I got “File not found - C:\Autorun.inf”
2nd method: There are a lot of translucent files. Which file to delete? There is no file named “Autorun.inf”.
October 18th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
thank you so much!! you were a great help my friend… immense help.. wish i cud repay u somehow. thank again man. your “Open folder options and click on “show hidden files and folders” and uncheck the option saying “hide protected operating system files”, now open the drive that contains this file. you will see the file little translucent, just delete it.” method worked like a charm.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Thank man you get me out of trouble
Can you post me mail regarding procedure for disinfecting (without formating) computer affected by virus and don’t have antivirus software installed also it doesn’t let any antivirus to install
Thanks in Advance
December 28th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
hi my problem is different the virus converted all my applications to windows media format and evrytime i try to click on help and support or type anything in the run windows media pops up and says this files cannot played because its is not recognised by windows media player……….the task manager was locked but i unlocked it with your download but now i still cant do anythin with out the wmp popping up
December 30th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Am still facing the problem even after following the above intructions…! IE does not open when I double-click, C:\ and other drives do not open when it’s double-clicked and any MS Office tools do not open..!
January 10th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Gr8 yaar, works like magic!!!
February 15th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
it says file not found.I checked it in all my local folders
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Ya same problem, cant find the file, even with the cmd, any alternate solution???
March 17th, 2010 at 11:08 am
I too have the same problem. “autorun.inf File not found”… Pls help…
March 17th, 2010 at 11:09 am
When trying to do this, I got a message “autorun.inf File not found”… Pls help…
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:42 pm
i did the same process suggested by you but i still have a problem.when i double click the drive i get a message that the drive is being used by another program.i cant open my usb drives netheir my hard drives.help
August 8th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Hi my problem is that the drive wen attached to p.c does not open on double clickin …i have formatted it yet no luck…. how to open this drive …?? n i guess i dnt have autorun.inf problem coz i have olredy formatted it …
plz help @ d earliest
tnx …!!!!!
August 8th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
@Mona
Formatting didn’t help you because your PC is already containing autorun.inf file, so it creates a copy of it soon after formatting. Format it from system that is not infected with autorun.
You can also method listed in the post for your help.
August 15th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
sir my pendrive contains virus and its nt opeaning at all i tired doing all nw wat should i do … it contains imp documents and i dnt want to del it ..plz advise