I'm looking to put an expansion EIDE controller in my dad's desktop so it can handle a new 500 GB drive (evidently the motherboard EIDE controller has the 137 GB limit). He got a 500 GB USB hard drive for it, too, and I was wondering if that would work with the computer (with the new controller card in). Maybe I'm thinking about it wrong, I don't know, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Also, if it would work, would it be because of the new controller card, or not?
Update: important info: I have not updated the BIOS. I'm not sure that a newer version is available. There is no OS on the machine at the moment - only 500GB HDD. I have a XP disc with SP 2. The computer is at a shop right now, and the tech said the motherboard won't support over 128 GB hard drives. I'm thinking this can be overcome with an expansion card PATA/EIDE controller, but I'm still wondering if an external 500 GB is going to work, and if I would need the new controller card for it to work.