Open an application when external hard drive appears

[ajoyce]

I want to be able to open the system preferences app (particularly the Time Machine pref pane) whenever an external hard drive is connected to my laptop. I would think that Hazel would be able to do this but so far I've not discovered how to go about doing it.

Any ideas?

[Mr_Noodle]

I guess you could monitor the Volumes folder and create a rule to match the name of the drive so that when it's added, you can invoke a script to open up System Preferences. Not sure how comfortable you are with scripting but that's the only way I see it being done at the moment.

[ajoyce]

Well . . . I would give that a try, but I don't see a "Volumes" folder. I tried monitoring the desktop but that didn't work. I also tried monitoring the name of the hard drive that's connecting, but that didn't work either. So. . . where is this Volumes folder to be found exactly?

[Mr_Noodle]

Ah yes, forgot that Volumes is hidden. Add a folder to Hazel by clicking the "+" button below the folder list. This will bring up the file dialog. From there, press "/" (slash). This will bring up a field where you can enter the path. Enter "/Volumes" there. That should make it appear.

[ajoyce]

Ah! Thanks. That should do it.