Autoplay in W7 turned itself off (permanently) - any solutions?

For no apparent reason autoplay on my DAW has become corrupted and won't work.  i.e. no disks will spin up in my CD/DVD players (I have 2).  I've tried all the obvious things - setting/resetting the autoplay options, checking the devices drivers are up to date, trying a Microsoft Fixit, etc.  I can play  music CDs and burn blanks but I have to first open Windows Media Player and start things off, then the disks will be accessed and will play and burn aftera few seconds delay.
 
Has anyone any ideas how to fix this?

Thanks.

I solved the problem but I'm posting the solution here just in case another poor soul experiences the same weird glitch: There's a helpful article here: 
http://www.mydigitallife.info/fix-windows-7-autoplay-dialog-box-missing-or-not-appear-display-and-pop-up/
After spending ages finding, checking and tinkering (in a controlled manner of course...) with the Autorun stuff in the Registry per the above article, to no avail, the solution was in fact in section 2. viz:
 
"2. Ensure that Shell Hardware Detection service is running. Type service.msc in Start Search to run Services console. Locate Shell Hardware Detection, and ensure that the “Service Status” is Running, and “Startup Type” is Automatic. Else, start the service and change the Startup Type setting accordingly."
 
My Shell Hardware Detection service was not set on Automatic and not Started... So how in the name of God did that service change its settings all by itself???? It wasn't me because I had no idea what or where it was, so therefore it must have been something else - a by-product of installing some software or a virus I can only assume. I got my ESET Nod32 to scan every single part of my system and it turned up with zero. So, the mystery will remain unresolved.