Question for Techies

[summercomfort]

So, we have this hypothetical disc of data, with an executable file that runs a program that uses data.

We wish that when you put the cd into the disc drive, it will run thing thing that will copy all of the contents of the cd into some folder on the computer and create a desktop shortcut linking to the exe file.

I feel like it's something that Windows already knows how to do, and we just need a few lines in some appropriately titled file somewhere that says, "yo, copy this shit and link to this," and one of those "InstallShield" things will automagically take care of the front end.

1) is this true?
2) if so, how can I go about finding out how to do this? (there must be some combination of technical terms that I must search for that will lead me to a page this says "this is how you do this")
3) if not, what type of work is necessary, and what kind of person would we have to commission to do this?

Comments

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

1) If you have an autorun.inf file in the root directory of the CD, then (pre-Vista, or unless autorun is disabled), whatever program you specify will launch automatically and do its thing. On Vista, a dialog will pop up asking the user whether they want to run the "automatically specified" program or do something else with the CD (like browse it), though the user can specify to do the default action.

2) This page (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/shell/programmersguide/shell_basics/shell_basics_extending/autorun/autoplay_works.asp) is the official Microsoft reference for Autoplay (at least up to Windows XP).

3) It shouldn't be too hard to write it (I think you could get away with a batch file that copied files?).

[summercomfort]

Thanks for all the helpfulness!

I think the cd has an autorun file linked with the exe file. So I guess what we need is for the autorun to link to a setup.exe type thing, which will then copy all the files onto the computer and do all the other standard things that Windows does?

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

That would be the best way to do it, yes. But if the CD already has an autorun.inf file, what does that one do? ^^;;

[summercomfort]

it runs the program.exe directly from the cd

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

Ah, then you would have to replace it with your own one that copies the files to the hard drive and then runs it.

If I have time, I'll see what I can do...

[summercomfort]

it's okay, don't worry about it. :D I'll just buy a program that does that or something... probably Windows Installer or something. You should be making your bed!! And then the TV stand!

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

But you don't necessarily have to buy it, a batch file or a simple program could work, depending on how pretty you want it to be. ^^;;;

And the bed's done, actually. It's too late for the TV stand though. ^^;;

[summercomfort]

Heee. Yeah, I found a free one that does what I want it to do. Thanks for all the help!

Hope you're enjoying your new bed!