[B Gallagher]

Hello all,

I've got an external HDD with the following partitions:

1. Backup (Time Machine)
2. Tiger Install Disc 1
3. Tiger Install Disc 2
4. Leopard Install DVD
5. 10.4.11
6. 10.5.6
7. TechTool Deluxe

Now, the Backup partition is the only one I use on a day-to-day basis - the others I keep around for diagnostic, scratch discs, quick reinstalls, etc. However, every time I mount my external drive, all seven partitions come up on the desktop, and I find myself quickly dragging them to the trash to have a cleaner desktop. Is there any way to specify certain partitions to not mount automatically?

Thanks.

[Hal Itosis]

Originally Posted by B Gallagher 

However, every time I mount my external drive, all seven partitions come up on the desktop, and I find myself quickly dragging them to the trash to have a cleaner desktop. Is there any way to specify certain partitions to not mount automatically?

Haven't tried this myself since Tiger... but folks who i trust have confirmed that
the fstab method described by "Hiding Partitions" still works in Leopard.

[B Gallagher]

Thanks for the quick reply Hal - I'm confused about the /etc/fstab file though. What format is this, and where do I save it to? :o

[Big Mac]

It's done through the Terminal, B Gallagher. There is more than one way to hide volumes from showing up in the Finder, though. You can toggle the volume's invisibility flag, for example:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.p...80124184544791

[Gavin]

The down side to this is remembering that the partition exists and how to make it show up when you need it next year. "I could have sworn I had a TechTool partition"

Keep notes.

[B Gallagher]

Thanks Big Mac and Gavin. Haha, yes, I have made notes! Big Mac, I actually prefer your method to Hal's, for the simple reason that the partition is still mounted (and shows up in the finder), yet not showing on the desktop. Many thanks.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by B Gallagher 

Thanks Big Mac and Gavin. Haha, yes, I have made notes! Big Mac, I actually prefer your method to Hal's, for the simple reason that the partition is still mounted (and shows up in the finder), yet not showing on the desktop. Many thanks.

I'm confused. If you set the partition to be invisible it will not show up on the desktop, sure. But how come it shows up in the Finder? If it's invisible it shouldn't show up at all in the Finder.

[B Gallagher]

I have no idea, to be honest. But here's what it looks like:

[DarkStarRed]

It's separated via the Finder's Preferences (Show items on Desktop) & (Show these items in Siderbar)