How can I test if my hard drive is installed/working before installing an OS?

If it asks you for drivers at the beginning of the installation, that usually means it was a bad burn. Try burning the ISO again at a lower speed.

"You can check if it is detected in BIOS. Usually, if it's there, then it's working. Just press delete several times while your PC boots up to go to the BIOS screen. It depends on the version, but your drive list should be somewhere in the ""Standard CMOS Features"" or something alike (usually, the first option in the list).

And as far as I know, raptors are quite silent. So it should be OK :]"