Hey guys! I'm not sure this is a Windows-specific thing since it happens on my Linux installation, too, but here goes: I have a couple of IDE hard drives, mounted in IDE-to-USB2.0 enclosures. Each one has 2-3 partitons, all NTFS. They're both connected to the PC all the time, but only powered on when I need to use one of them. (The PC can't "see" them unless they're powered on.) Here's the rub: Whenever I switch one of the drives on, as soon as Windows or Linux recognizes and mounts it, it opens each partition in a window, the same as if I'd double-clicked its icon. I can see how this might be convenient for some, but for me it just means three extra windows I have to close. Is there a way to stop this from happening? Please note that I'm not referring to autorunning/autoplaying any software on the drives, just the explorer window opening. Thanks very much for your help! Why shouldn't I put a question here?

In WinXP after the drive is settled down right click on the drive icon and choose> properties> autoplay. The settings there determine how the drive opens. I can't help you with Linux but probably something similar.

It seems I answered my own question, at least partially. Amazing what you can figure out just digging around in the system settings. :-) Posted here for future reference (and to thumb my nose at full time Windows users who have to twiddle with registry settings). Debian Linux 5.0.1 (Lenny) running GNOME How to stop the window manager from displaying the contents of USB devices and/or CDs/DVDs when attached, inserted, or hot-plugged: 1. From the System menu, select Preferences > Removable Drives and Media. 2. On the Storage tab (selected by default), uncheck the box for Browse removable media when inserted. 3. Click close. That's it! Really! No registry settings, no command prompt wonkery, no need to download special utility applets. Why shouldn't I put a question here?