I have read on many forums and web pages people wanting to know how to start multiple items or non-executable items (like an HTML/text file) using the autorun.inf feature on a CD to run on windows.

It is simple to accomplish this. It involves making a DOS batch file, and telling the auto run file to execute the batch file.

The process:

This is the batch file named "autorun.bat" (the batch file can be named anything, I chose autorun.bat because it makes sense):

@echo Load "SetupInstructions.txt"...
@start SetupInstructions.txt
@start setup.exe
@exit

The batch file, when executed, will display a line of text in a DOS window, then open the text file called SetupInstructions.txt with instructions for the user to install the software. The batch file will also run the software installer at the same time so the user can follow along with the directions. Once it does all of that, it closes itself.

This is the auto run file called "autorun.inf":

[autorun]
open=autorun.bat
icon=cdrom.ico

Put the provided text in the respectively named text files, and when you make a CD that you want something to run as soon as you insert the CD (like a business card CD, where you want a presentation to start), put the files on it.

How it works:

Because windows was programmed so that autorun.inf files can only open executable programs/files, it has the limitation that you can't open a anything but that type of file. However, because DOS batch files are considered executable by windows, the batch file will be executed when you insert the CD, and the computer will follow the instructions provided in the batch file.