How to make finder display a previously ejected usb deivce

December 10, 2008 3:05 PM

How do I make my mac recognize an already plugged in usb device?

If I attach a usb device to my mac, it automatically shows up in my finder sidebar and when I am finished using it, I can simply click the eject button next to it.
If I don't disconnect the device, is there any way to make finder refresh the 'Places' heading? Is there any way to make the device show up besides unplugging it and plugging it back in?

posted by alitorbati to computers & internet (5 comments total)

You can re-mount it in Disk Utility, but I'm not sure if that's any easier.
posted by wsp at 3:17 PM on December 10, 2008

It'd be possible to write a script to do it. Here's a starting point.
posted by kindall at 3:30 PM on December 10, 2008

send your mac to sleep and wake it up again. it's not quicker than the plugging-action though.
posted by krautland at 4:05 PM on December 10, 2008

Sending it to sleep doesn't work (iMac). At least not for me.

Very curious myself.
posted by comiddle at 4:59 PM on December 10, 2008

It'd be possible to write a script to do it.

In fact...

my mount("Diskname")

on mount(volname)
    try
        tell application "System Events"
            if not (exists disk volname) then
                do shell script "/usr/sbin/diskutil mount `/usr/sbin/disktool -l | /usr/bin/grep -e \"'" & volname & "'\" | /usr/bin/grep -o '\\(disk[0-9s]*\\)'`"
            end if
        end tell
    end try
end mount

Paste it into Script Editor, change "Diskname" to the name of the disk you want to mount, save it as an application. Double-click it when you want to mount that disk. You can save multiple copies of the script to mount different disks.

Watch out for that long command in the middle, it should go all on one line.
posted by kindall at 8:16 PM on December 10, 2008 [1 favorite]