laptop HD crash - now what?

[hoppa]

I was just sitting with my old apple laptop on my lap when all sorts of grinding and clicking started coming from the HD region. I immediately turned the machine off.

Then I sat there thinking... now what? I don't really have any important data on there, but I wouldn't mind being able to scour through the HD if possible and grab a few files.

What should I do? Is that it? Is the machine dead? Should I even bother trying to turn it on again?

 

[hoppa]

I guess the answer is "get a new HD," because even if this thing is old and ******, it's better than spending $2000 on a new mac... the minimum price for a 15" screen. WTF?

I also tried booting it up again, just for kicks. At least now I know what a dead HD sounds like