How do I set up a computer to automatically copy files to any flash drive when it is plugged into the USB port?

April 29, 2009 8:25 PM

How do I set up a computer to automatically copy files to any flash drive when it is plugged into the USB port?

I'm having an album release party and I would like to set up a Macbook Pro so that people can plug in their flash drive and the files will automatically transfer to them. I also have a PC available if this is easier to accomplish in Windows XP.

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

In Windows, you could use Allway Sync (a free program) to set up a one-way sync, and assign the destination drive to be whatever drive letter the flash drives will use. (Example: I can plug in my flash drive and it will show up as drive E:, but then unplug it and plug in my external hard drive and it will show up as E:.) Then all they'd have to do is plug in and press Synchronize.
posted by IndigoRain at 8:42 PM on April 29

MarcoPolo should be able to do this. You'd have to write a script (applescript or shell) for the copying part, and then tell marcopolo to launch this script on the mounting of a USB drive. (note, I've not tested this!)
posted by pompomtom at 8:47 PM on April 29

...actually, it's just occurred to me that you won't know what the newly mounted drive would be called, so it might be a little more complicated. I expect you could find out with a bit of piping mount to sed or whatever...
posted by pompomtom at 8:51 PM on April 29

Folder Actions can do this, including handling not knowing what the newly mounted drive is called. The trick is to attach an action to your /Volumes folder, but exclude it from acting on known volumes (e.g. "Macintosh HD", any network shares you may use, etc).

Google around for +"OS X" +"folder actions" +"mount"
posted by Pinback at 11:51 PM on April 29 [2 favorites has favorites]

I've done this with SyncBack SE (there's a free version, but it lacks the run-on-media-connection feature).
posted by Songdog at 3:59 PM on April 30