On investigation, it seems that if you open system settings and then click on "Removable Media", Down the bottom there's a checkbox 'Never prompt or start programs on media insertion'.
If this is unchecked Nautilus will not open a file view for a USB pendrive or other device when it is plugged in. This is not obvious when coming from earlier versions, because it was separate to "removable media" and a setting in Nautilus itself. Chris ** Changed in: nautilus (Ubuntu) Status: Confirmed => Invalid -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to nautilus in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/840680 Title: gnome-control-center is missing setting for action to take when removable hard drive or usb key is inserted Status in “nautilus” package in Ubuntu: Invalid Bug description: gnome-control-center is missing setting for action to take when removable hard drive or usb key is inserted. After upgrading to oneiric, this action has been reset to 'browse media' and there isn't a way to change it in System Settings. 'Removable Media' has settings for DVDs, Bluray, Software, and many other things, but not hard drive/removable media. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10 Package: gnome-control-center 1:3.1.90-0ubuntu2 Uname: Linux 3.1.0-rc4-git-20110831.1150 x86_64 Architecture: amd64 Date: Sun Sep 4 07:34:21 2011 InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Beta amd64 (20110330) SourcePackage: gnome-control-center UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-09-02 (1 days ago) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nautilus/+bug/840680/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp