Try this first:

Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Device Manager
Right click on your DVD drive, click Properties, click Settings tab.
Make sure Auto Insert Notification is checked.

If it is or if that option is not visible:

AutoRun/AutoPlay Does Not Work When A CD/DVD Is Inserted
This problem last surfaced in Windows XP. At that particular time the 'probable' cause was an application called Roxio Easy CD Creator. Where Windows XP was concerned simply updating Roxio cured the problem.

As has been said the last encounter with this problem was in the early days of XP, so you can imagine my surprise when, after inserting a DVD into my DVD-Rom recently, I found, to my utter amazement, that it wouldn't auto play

Both music CDs and even the Windows Vista DVD were tried to see if they would Autorun/Autoplay but, to my disappointment, all failed

On this occasion no Roxio software of any description was installed on my system, therefore, I couldn't blame that for my current demise. Finally, through trial and error, the problem was traced to the Windows Registry where, as if by magic, something had actually turned the Autoplay option off.

If you have a similar problem then I would suggest that you first check the Windows Registry to see if the AutoRun/AutoPlay option has inadvertently been turned off.

To check the registry proceed as follows.

Important Note
Editing the registry can cause problems which may render your PC unbootable. This is especially so if you change keys that you shouldn't. Therefore, prior to making any changes to the registry it is suggested that you make a back up of the registry. For more information on backing up the registry see the following topic Back Up The Registry

1/ Click the Start button

2/ In the Search dialogue box type; Regedit

3/ UAC will kick in and ask your permission to continue prior to opening the registry editor. If you are the Administrator, Click Continue. If you are not the Administrator then you will need the Administrator password, etc before you can continue

4/ The Registry Editor will now open

5/ Now navigate to the following subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CDRom

6/ Look down the list of option in the Right Hand pane of the Registry editor Window and locate the AutoRun option

7/ If the AutoRun value is 1 (one) then AutoRun is enabled. If it is 0 (zero) then it is disabled. To re-enable it, Right Click on the AutoRun option, Select Modify and in the Value Data box type: 1 (one), then Press OK

8/ If AutoRun is already enabled in this Registry key, then Locate the following Registry subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

9/ Look at the entry NoDriveTypeAutoRun (It is sometimes difficult to locate this particular option in the maze of other registry entries, therefore, I find that it is easier if one the Find option. Click Edit on the registry main toolbar and then, from the drop down menu, select Find. In the 'Find What' dialogue box type NoDriveTypeAutoRun and then click the Find Next button.

10/ If the value of this key is 0xb5, then AutoRun is turned off. (or 255) then AutoRun is turned off

11/ To turn AutoRun back on, Right Click the NoDriveTypeAutoRun option and then Click Modify. Select the Decimal option then type: 91  (Ninety One) in the value box, and then press OK

12/ Finally Close the Registry Editor

13/ Insert a CD or DVD into the CD/DVD-Rom and, hopefully, it should now AutoRun.

Microsoft Article ID : 330135