The drive you describe is an MFM type. It is from the computer stoneage. The controlercard you have is probably an A2090. That card supported this kind if drive beside SCSI ones. The everage A2090 does not allow autoboot from HD. You have to boot from floppy till the controller comes to live, then the HD will carry on the bootprocess. There were modified Version of the A2090 later on that could boot alone. See here for info about the A2090
http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=1159
