How to automatically add a shortcut for removable media on Windows desktop, like some Linux distros?

Question

I use sometimes some Linux distros, e.g. Ubuntu, and I like the feature they have to add a desktop shortcut to every removable device that is plugged in on desktop - for example, when a DVD is inserted, a new icon for that appears on desktop, and with that I can access, eject etc.

I would like to have the same feature for Windows - specifically for Windows XP Professional SP3, but it is interesting to know the solution for other Windows versions...

Any help?

PS1: I would like to have "dynamic shortcuts", i.e, shortcutes that appears on desktop when the removable device is inserted and that disappears when it is removed.

PS2: I'm talking about CD/DVD media and massive storage devices mainly.

Answer 1

In Windows 7 (and I assume this works in XP) you can place a shortcut on your desktop to the CDROM drive; the downside is that this icon doesn't update when you insert a drive (but it does allow direct access to the drive).

You could also consider the DeskDrive tool - I haven't tried it, but it looks like it will do what you want. It's also more dynamic than the native shortcut method.