This post is for anyone with similar issues:
Like
the_dude says: go to the site of your HD's manufacturer and download their drive software.
Depending on manufacturer it will allow you to do all kinds of neat things with your drive (like really checking it good before you return it when damaged.) but in all cases it will allow you to surpass any bios limits.
For maxtor look here: [url=http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/maxblast3.htm]www.maxtor.com[/u]
For Western digital look here:
www.westerndigital.com
Now once I also found the IBM equivalent software, but I can't find it now... anybody have a link?
-> notes: all links point to the software I was referreing to. Read the rest of their support sites as well if you experience problems.