mintr : It sounds to me like you haven't tried to install or remove any of the small (2-pin) shorting blocks , so that you can select which mode the HD is supposed to work under. With these older HD's , they come without jumper pins as default , but you can choose to run these as a primary master or slave - so you will need to add jumper pins in that case. On their own , from time to time [if the HD has been used in different applications] - the controller can become messed up (as to which is set) - especially where there are no jumper pins installed on the HD. If the HD has got jumper pins installed on the rear nearest the Sata connector - then start by adding (1) jumper pin [ in a top to bottom configuration - not side to side] and note any changes in bios - for each available pin in the block section. If there are any jumper pin options on the HD , there should be at least (3) [ 1 for Master , 1 for Slave , 1 for CS (Cable Select)] . Cable select is the best , as it allows the controller to work under autodetection.
The "empty" jumper pin configuration allows the HD to use the same method as the "cable select option" , but it does mess up from time to time without a jumper pin to lock in the setting. Installing the HD on different mobo's can cause the controller to become undetected in bios - along with some other things , like putting the HD with another HD as a slave or master.
I don't see any particulars about where you got this HD , or whether or not you have used it before - but you can't load software onto it , until the bios recognizes it (which is what you are saying). Most HD's work straight out of the box , so any suggestion that you need to load drivers to it , are unfounded - until it is recognized. You should also be checking the HD on a different power plug or cable , as most of the time when the HD is not recognized because of a minor glitch - it is because the power supply cable isn't proper or working - not the data cable itself. Usually you don't have to set the mode to have the HD recognized - you would do that after it is recognized. You should choose to set your bios to default - even if you haven't changed anything , before you test the PSU cable / and or the pin settings.
Note : If you are using this HD by itself , in conjunction with a single DVD ROM - the DVD jumper pins must be set to either "slave or CS - Cable Select". That can also cause a conflict in the bios - especially if the bios doesn't show that the DVD is recognized either.
post edited by ZROCKMAN - 2011/02/27 09:54:17