Most major Hard Drive manufacturers have downloadable installation and diagnostic software available on their websites. The installation software can help you get your drive set up the way you want, with partitioning, "ghosting" (transferring) an image of your old drive to the new one, or setting up an overlay that will let an older machine "get around" the BIOS size limitations that would normally keep the machine from seeing part or all of the newer larger drives.

Sometimes if a drive has previously been installed with an overlay or Partition Magic or something similar, you will have to write zeros to it (or run a debug script that zeros out tracks 0 & 1) to fix it.

The diagnostic software will examine the operation of your hard drive and provide you with a diagnostic report or error code that you can use to tell the manufacturer about your drive. This is nearly always necessary if you are returning a drive for warranty replacement.
While these programs are supposed to be nondestructive (except for the "write zero" utilities), it is advisable to back up your important data before running them.

Many (most) of these software programs are available either as an image to make a bootable floppy or as an ISO to create a bootable CD-ROM. Generally, the CD ISO's are much larger and contain more "stuff". To use the CD, the machine must be able to boot from the CD-ROM (CD set as 1st boot device). To use the bootable floppy, the machine must have the floppy set as the 1st boot device. These changes can be made in the BIOS setup.

Here are the manufacturer's download sites (links checked 11/22/08)

Maxtor's is called Powermax, Powermax Diagnostic Note this is different than the Maxblast 5 software used to install a new drive.
Quantum was been bought out by Maxtor. AND NOW they are owned by Seagate. Powermax & Maxblast now support (at least some of) the Quantum drives.

Seagate's is SeaTools, SeaTools EULA You must accept the EULA to download the program. Their installation program is called DiskWizard

IBM drives are now supported by Hitachi. Hitachi Storage Site

Fujitsu's software utilities are all on one page. What a clever idea! Here

Western Digital's is Data Lifeguard Tools , Data Lifeguard (WD's are all in one place, too.)

NOTICE: Data Lifeguard installed Foistware called Backweb so Western Digital could "Keep you informed of important updates"
(i.e. spam your computer whenever they want). This sux in spades.
For information on removing this crap, go to cexx.org.
If you find their information useful, you might consider making a donation.
Update: Western Digital says they no longer install Backweb with Data Lifeguard. Good for them.
Their instructions on removal are hard to find. They are here

Samsung's is HUTIL Program , HUTIL Note: There are several other utilities listed on this page as well. Be sure you get the one you need by reading the descriptions.