How to Create Removable Media Shortcuts Automatically on Windows Desktop?

Whenever you insert your USB drive into your computer, Windows shows the Autorun dialog box and asks you “What do you want Windows to do?”. But the Autorun dialog box is shown only once and if you close it, you’ll need to manually open the drive from My Computer.

Consider a situation when you disabled “Autorun” feature to prevent virus infection. Again you’ll need to manually open the drive from My Computer.

Wouldn’t it be great and easier if you can add a shortcut to your USB drive on Desktop so that you can easily and quickly open the drive?

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Today we are sharing 2 FREE utilities which can add shortcuts to USB drives, CD/DVD drives, hard drives, network drives and RAM disk drives.

Removable_Drive_Desktop_Shortcut.png

1. Desktop Media:

Desktop Media is small application for Windows (any flavor) that automatically adds drive icons to your desktop. It will detect USB drives, fixed drives (ie. your hard drives), CD/DVD drives, network drives, and even RAM disk drives. For removable media (such as USB drives and CD/DVD drives), it will only add the drive to your desktop if it is present. So if you have a CD/DVD drive, but no disc is present, you won’t see the icon on your desktop.

Features List:

  • Automatically detects new (or existing) media and adds the icons to your desktop.
  • Has the ability to create soft links (shortcuts) or hard links (symbolic links).
  • Supports removable, fixed, network, CD/DVD, and RAM disk drives.
  • Ability to ignore user-specified drive letters.
  • Has the option to save the positions of the icons.

You can access it settings using its system tray icon.

You can select which drives shortcuts you want to show on Desktop. You can even select drives to ignore so that Desktop Media doesn’t create their shortcuts on Desktop.

Download Link

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It seems the program is no longer available for download.

2. Desk Drive:

Desk Drive is another similar software which does the same job. It adds a desktop icon pointing to the drive automatically. Remove the media and the shortcut goes away.

You can access its settings using its system tray icon as usual.

Similar to Desktop Media, you can select which drives shortcuts you want to show and which you want to hide.

Download Link

Published in: Software, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. I downloaded Desktop Media and was very happy for it because I was looking for a gadget like this… but the “save icon position” option doesn’t work. despite checking the box, the icon is every time in the up right corner -> the first free space on the desktop and I don’t want it to be here because my RocketDock panel covers it… can anybody help me with that?
    thanks.

  2. I downloaded Desktop Media and was very happy for it because I was looking for a gadget like this… but the “save icon position” option doesn’t work. despite checking the box, the icon is every time in the up right corner -> the first free space on the desktop and I don’t want it to be here because my RocketDock panel covers it… can anybody help me with that?
    thanks…

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