If a user regrets that decision or wishes to make automatic AutoPlay selections for any particular content type, the AutoPlay properties for any drive are accessible through the My Computer desktop icon. The AutoPlay tab showing a DVD drive properties dialog on Windows XP. However, if they also tick the 'Always do the selected action' tick box at this point, they will not be prompted the next time that particular content type is seen on that particular drive the selected application will automatically start. The user can now make their decision and click OK to proceed. These actions are called Handlers and there are sets of Handlers associated with various types of content. AutoPlay has determined that content is most likely a DVD movie and presents a set of actions to the user based on that decision.

The dialog shows the result of a user placing a DVD into a DVD reader, in this case the D: drive.

When the user makes a particular choice, they also have the option to make that selection automatic the next time Windows sees that content or device. It is looking for properties of the device or content on the medium so that AutoPlay can present a set of meaningful options to the user.

When a user inserts a CD-ROM into a drives or attaches a USB camera, Windows detects the arrival and starts a process of examining the device or searching the medium.

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