AutoRun vs AutoPlay

How To Disable AutoRun / AutoPlay In Windows 7 & Windows 8 (March 29th, 2013)

quote from:
www.techtree.com/India/Guides/Auto-Remove_Autoruninf
_Virus_Problems/551-97290-584-1.html
AutoRun was introduced in Windows 95, which as you already know enables a CD to automatically launch a function without user intervention, such as an installer, game, multimedia (CHIP/Digit CD/DVD's use this extensively), when placed in the drive. This is accomplished through the use of Autorun.inf file in the root directory of the media. It's a great function except when exploited for malware/viruses.
AutoPlay on the other hand was introduced with Windows XP, which detects media contents such as pictures, music, or video files be it CD/DVD's, memory cards or USB drives. AutoPlay then automatically launches applications to play or display that content. Effectively simplifying when one needs to play MP3's or view photos. This method is a little safer only because it requires user intervention (provided the user is smart).