When I installed Ubuntu on my dual boot system it connivently placed a link of some sort to my windows file system on the desktop. I'm not sure where that actual icon is coming from though, because there are no links (hidden or otherwise) on my desktop. So, first question, what is that? and where is it coming from?

I installed a second ext3 harddrive and mounted it the usual cli way, and although it works great. I'm wondering how I can add one of those links on the desktop (like the windows one). Also, gnome/ubuntu has given the windows partition a harddrive icon, and although I can give my new harddrive a custom icon, I'd like to know how gnome/ubuntu know that the folder is actually the windows partition and not just your average folder.

I like consistency, so how do I make my new hdd act like the windows partition (show up in the places menu as another disk, etc.)?

will update places and the desktop to include my new hdd. But can someone explain to me what this does, and what gnome/ubuntu is doing?