I just got the parts for a new computer. It's pretty much all together now, but I got an extra hard drive to add to it that is giving me troubles. It's a WD 640 GB SATA "Caviar: Black Edition" hard drive that I bought OEM. I plugged everything together in the computer and my old HD's were recognized (also WD SATA's), but this one doesn't show up anywhere. I know I could have gotten a DOA, but I suspect it's because I don't know what I'm doing for setup. I'm on Windows 7 64 bit and the motherboard is the Giga-byte GA-EX58-UD3R. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Does it show up in diskmanager ?

Hard drives don't come pre-formatted. You need to view the drive in disk manager, initialize, partition, and format it. To access the disk manager right-click on computer and select manage. Then expand "disk manager" in the left pane. All your disks will be visible in the right pane, one of which should show up as having no partition and not being initialized. This is your missing disk.

I'll have to take a look at the disk manager tomorrow when I get back from out of town. I wrote my original post last night right before throwing in the towel for the day and going to bed and it was less than well organized and presented. I knew that new HDD's don't come formattted, but remember back in the day (i.e., last time I got a new HDD) there was a Floppy/CD that you booted from and would setup the disk. I bought this HDD OEM so there wasy no CD or anything with it. I looked all through the BIOS and couldn't find anyway to get things running. I did try downloading WD's "Lifegaurd" boot CD, but this appears to simply be to test HDD's, not format (at least my new HDD didn't show up in there). I am a little concerned, as I don't see my new HDD in the BIOS as a SATA/IDE device, didn't see it in the "Lifegaurd" boot program. However, I'll look through the disk manager. I have tried multiple SATA power and motherboard connectors with no difference. I can't be sure the drive is powering up, but I'm not sure that it isn't either. My other HDD's have just the slightest bit of vibration that I'm sure I'm feeling. This one might have a little, but not enough that I'm sure. However, it also doesn't make any of the classic clicks or whatnot of a dead/dying HDD. Anyway, in case anyone sees this or this draws out in to a longer problem when I get back and try out the disk manager, a more detailed system configuration:Intel i7-920 (plans to overclock to 3.8ish GHz with Megahelm cooler)GA-EX58-UD3R MotherboardCorsair XMS3 3x2GB 1333 RAMMSI GTX 285/1GB (factory overclocked)Corsair 750W PSU2xDVD/DVD-RW (SATA) (Lite-on)3x7200 RPM SATA HD (All WD, 1 x 320 GB, 1 x 80 GB, 1 x 640 GB--not yet working)Windows 7 64 bit Professional

If you don't see the drive in the BIOS then you have one of a few possibilities1) loose cable (data or power)2) port disabled in BIOS3) bad sata cable4) bad driveFirst thing's first, make sure the sata cable is firmly connected on both ends. Also make sure the power cable is connected. Then check to see that the drive is spinning. If the drive is spinning and everything is connected, we know the drive is getting power at least. From there you'd need to check the BIOS to make sure all SATA ports are enabled. Moving on from that you could connect the SATA cable to another port, and try another SATA cable altogether. If the drive still doesn't show up, it's likely bad but to know for sure you'd need to connect it to another PC.

If you don't see the drive in the BIOS then you have one of a few possibilities1) loose cable (data or power)2) port disabled in BIOS3) bad sata cable4) bad driveFirst thing's first, make sure the sata cable is firmly connected on both ends. Also make sure the power cable is connected. Then check to see that the drive is spinning. If the drive is spinning and everything is connected, we know the drive is getting power at least. From there you'd need to check the BIOS to make sure all SATA ports are enabled. Moving on from that you could connect the SATA cable to another port, and try another SATA cable altogether. If the drive still doesn't show up, it's likely bad but to know for sure you'd need to connect it to another PC.

Well, it seems to me that I am heading towards a bad drive. I haven't been back yet to have a chance to play with this, but:1. I have made sure repeatedly that all cables are well seated.2. I don't see any notes of disabled ports in my BIOS AND my old HDD's are workig in ports that I have tried co0nnecting this one to.3. I have tried 3 SATA cables, including 1 working on an old drive and 2 different power cables (trying 4 different sockets in total)4. Seems to be where I end up. I will take a loot through the disk manager when I get back , but I will likely be starting the RMA process (luckily I bought through Newegg who as a whole has excellent customer service).