How to delete Autorun.inf file

How to delete Autorun.inf file: The autorun.inf is a text file which gives the removable drive AutoPlay and AutoRun functions. In order for these function to work the autorun.inf file must be located in the root directory of the volume. In order to actually see the autorun.inf file you must have checked mark the option “Show hidden files and folders” in Folder Options. AutoRun basically automatically launch a program associated with the removable drive which could guide the user through the installation process or any other process.

How to delete Autorun.inf file

The Autorun.inf was abused by hacker community and is still used to execute malicious program automatically on the user machine without letting the user know about it. If you try to delete the autorun.inf and you receive the “Acces denied” or “You need permission to perform this action” error message then there are two possibilities: One the file is infected by virus & the virus has locked the file so that you can’t delete or modify the file in any way, other is that the antivirus has locked the file so that any virus or malware can’t infect the file.

It doesn’t really matter which of the above case you have if you want to delete the corrupted autorun.inf file then there are various possible methods available and the next time you plug in your device the autorun.inf file will be automatically created.

How to delete Autorun.inf file

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Backup Data and Format the Drive

The easiest way to remove autorun.inf file is to copy all the data to your hard disk and then format the drive containing the autorun.inf.

sd card format

Method 2: Take ownership of the file

1.Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt admin

2.Type the following command in the cmd and hit Enter:

Note: Just replace the drive letter G: with your own.

takeown /f G:\autorun.inf

Take ownership of autorun.inf file and then delete it

3.Once you have taken the ownership through the above command go to your removable drive.

4.Permanently delete AutoRun.inf file from the removable drive.

Method 3: Remove autorun.inf file by using the command prompt

1.Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

2.Type the following command in the cmd and hit Enter:

cd G:
attrib -r -h -s autorun.inf
del autorun.inf

Remove autorun.inf file by using the command prompt attrib -r -h -s autorun.inf

3.If you get access denied error while running the above command then you need to take ownership of the file.

4.Run this command in cmd: takeown /f G:\autorun.inf

Take ownership of autorun.inf file and then delete it

5.Then again run the above command and see if you’re able to run it.

6.If you still get the access denied error then right-click on Autorun.inf file and select Properties.

7.Switch to Security tab and click Advanced.

right-click on autorun.inf file then switch to Security tab then click Advanced

8.Now click Change under Owner.

click Change under Owner in advanced security settings for autorun.inf file

9.Type Everyone under Enter the object name to select field and then click on Check Names.

Add Everyone to User Group

10.Click Apply Followed by OK.

11.Again go to Advanced Security Settings and then click Add.

click Add under Advanced Security Settings for autorun.inf file

12.Click on Select a principal and then type Everyone and click on Check Names.

click on select a principal under Permission entry for autorun.inf file

13.Click OK and under basic permission select Full Control then click OK.

select Full control under basic permission for permission entry

14.Next, click Apply followed by OK.

add everyone to permission entry for autorun.inf file in order to delete it

15.Now again try to run the above command which was giving access denied error.

Method 4: Delete Autorun.inf file in safe mode

1.Press Windows Key + R then type msconfig and hit Enter to open System Configuration.

msconfig

2.Switch to boot tab and check mark Safe Boot option.

uncheck safe boot option

3.Click Apply followed by OK.

4.Restart your PC and system will boot into Safe Mode automatically.

5.Take permission if you need to by following the above method.

6.Then open cmd and type the following command:

cd G:
attrib -r -h -s autorun.inf
del autorun.inf

Remove autorun.inf file by using the command prompt attrib -r -h -s autorun.inf

4.Reboot your PC normally.

Method 5: Run CCleaner and Malwarebytes

1.Download and install CCleaner & Malwarebytes.

2.Run Malwarebytes and let it scan your system for harmful files.

3.If malware is found it will automatically remove them.

4.Now run CCleaner and in the “Cleaner” section, under the Windows tab, we suggest checking the following selections to be cleaned:

ccleaner cleaner settings

5.Once you’ve made certain the proper points are checked, simply click Run Cleaner, and let CCleaner run its course.

6.To clean your system further select the Registry tab and ensure the following are checked:

registry cleaner

7.Select Scan for Issue and allow CCleaner to scan, then click Fix Selected Issues.

8.When CCleaner asks “Do you want backup changes to the registry?” select Yes.

9.Once your backup has completed, select Fix All Selected Issues.

10.Restart your PC to save changes.

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That’s it you have successfully learned How to delete Autorun.inf file if you still have any questions regarding this guide then feel free to ask them in the comment’s

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