gonzai | Computer Follies

So the internal 320GB drive I use to store music is just about full, and I'm nowhere near finishing digitizing my vinyl & cassettes. So I shop for another internal. The stores only have 500 (which I'll likely fill soon) and 1TB, which is probably too much. So I order a 750GB one from the net. Today I set out to install it. First problem: my computer is IDE, the drive turns out to be a SATA. I go to the electronics store and they give me the patches and instructions to install the drive. I do so. The computer doesn't recognize the drive. I try every configuration I can think of. No dice. I take the computer to the shop. They're not licensed to work on computers, but the guy visually inspects it and says it's fine. I take it back home and run through every diagnostic and help option - nothing recognizes the existence of this drive. I'm thinking I threw away $100 at a time I really can't afford to do that.

Any suggestions?