is it the hard drive?

[mutated corpse]

Recently, i started hearing weird noises from my cpu, and it sounds like my hard drive. It sounds like my hard drive is starting and then stopping. This usually happens when i am starting the PC, and it causes my PC to hang during the boot-up. After a few resets, i stop hearing the noise and my PC is working fine again. I have checked the cables but this still happens. Is this something i should worry about? I have been using this PC for only 2 years.

[Cricket]

Time to start backing up all you important data from that WD 80GB SE HDD...they've been having reliability issues, I had to replace 6 of them in the past year.

Go to the Western Digital web site and get the drive diagnostic utility to test the drive with.

:) Cricket

[mutated corpse]

Thanks Cricket. I have yet to test my drive with the diagnostic utility. Seems like i need to start hunting for a new drive...I am wondering which brand or family of drives are more reliable?

[Gizmo]

Seagate and Maxtor are good brands.

[Panama Red]

You'd be best to back up your data before running the diagnostics. Occasionally the diagnostics causes data loss or corruption. Even more likely with a dying drive. Seagate drives offer the best warranty, 5 years, and are very quiet.

[mutated corpse]

Thanks guys..i know what to do...dig deep into my pocket...