There's really no way to incorrectly install a SATA drive. I think you have a bad drive (or maybe a bad controller). Have you tried hooking up the new drive to the primary SATA connector to see if the BIOS/Diagnostic software sees it properly.

Yeah, I read around that a bit, and learned that seria ATA HDs do not require any fiddling with jumper settings. [link] :

Each drive on the serial ATA interface connects in a point-to-point configuration with the serial ATA host adapter. There is no master/slave relationship because each drive is considered a master in a point-to-point relationships.

You're right, SATA drivers shouldn't need any settings at all and the connectors all only fit one way.

I'm glad I didn't completely kill the thread with my link.

I think you have a bad drive (or maybe a bad controller). Have you tried hooking up the new drive to the primary SATA connector to see if the BIOS/Diagnostic software sees it properly.

But if I have a bad controller, shouldn't my main drive (which is also SATA) be in trouble as well?

The way my system is set up, my primary IDE is actually my DVD-ROM drive, and my main HD is something like the third master (despite the fact that that HD is connected to a port labelled "SATA1" on the motherboard) -- not sure where I'd locate the primary SATA connector. (I've mentioned the bit about being tech-ignorant, right?)

Just connect the new drive to the connector the working drive is using. You know that connection works, so then you have isolated the problem to the hard drive. If you contact Maxtor they are probably going to ask you to do that anyway before they issue an RMA so you can return the drive.

Oh, got it. Thanks. I'll try that when I get home.

I agree, it sounds like a bad drive.

However, it's also possible you may need to upgrade your BIOS. It might be a case of it not being able to recognize a drive that big, which is why it's coming back with a size of 0MB. What's the size of the drive currently in your system?

ETA: Or it could be a completely brainless new "feature" that causes problems because nothing supports it. A quick Googling turned up this thread about the problem [link] with a rather inventive (and scary) solution, but it looks like this post in that thread [link] has a more sensible solution that doesn't require a soldering iron.

Seems like this is the place for the link...

You know, I totally missed that Seth Green was in it until someone elsewhere mentioned it.

(Edited to correct typo)

I want to make a copy of a video DVD. In OSX, when I select copy--I don't know what's to happen next. It seems like nothing does.

My burner on my XP machine doesn't work. I'd really like to make an ISO copy of the disk, zap that over to the Mac and burn from there. I have Nero, I have Sonic MyDVD and I have Drag'N Drop CD+DVD. Can't work out how to make an image on any of them. Well, not one that's not an NRG file. Help!