Make my HDD transfer faster

1. I have an OptiPlex 745 tower.  The drives are sata hdd capable of 6 gig? transfers.  Yet I am constantly seeing the win 7 little circle going round and round.  Is there a way make the drives faster so I do not have to wait?

2. I do have a external hdd that is usb 3 capable, how to I know if the drive is plugged into a usb 3 port (assuming I have any usb 3 ports)?

3. Note I will be upgrading the BIOS from 2.6.4 to 2.6.6 (I am not sure what that will give me.) - what will the newer BIOS do for me?