Windows 7: secondary drive icon

I have a secondary hard drive where I keep all of my photographs, it is connected by usb cable, can I put a shortcut of it onto my desktop and what will happen to it if the drive is turned off? as it is when not in use!
I also have a second hard drive also connected by usb which I use for backing up my computer, this also is kept switched off untill needed.
Ken

Yes, just right click on the drive icon that appears in my computer when its plugged in and drag it to wherever you want it and select "create a shortcut here" - you can do this with both drives giving the shortcuts different names. Then when the drive(s) are disconnected the shortcuts will just give you an error saying they are not found but when you plug them back in the shortcuts will work again.
The shortcuts won't disappear when you disconnect the drives.

Thanks, I have done that, I'm slowely getting to grips with Windows 7
Ken

Ok glad to have helped - please mark the post as "solved" so others know its finished.

Thanks.