Can't mount hard drive icons on desktop

Hello,
Just partitioned a friend's new iMac running Snow leopard. Noticed before starting that the 1Tb drive wasn't showing on the desktop, but nor are the two new partitions, even though Disk Utility seems to be showing them as mounted. I've never seen that before, so how do I get the two partition icons to appear on the desktop permanently?
One small unrelated question - just checking whether a headphones/mike (2x 3.5mm jack plugs) I recently bought is dud. Have tried it on both Line in and Internal microphone options in Sound preferences, with input volume turned right up - but still nothing coming through from the headphones mike. Is there another option I should be choosing, or is it just a dud as I feared all along? (the headphones part does work OK).
Thanks....BC

Thank you Roger and Evan for your help.
I would have thought that PC World, where I bought it as recommended for use with Macs, would have known that it was incompatible - after all they do sell the latest Macs. Oh well...
Thanks again...BC

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