Time for a new HDD?

[natep]

I've never witnessed a HDD die before, so I wanted to make sure it is gone before I toss it out for a new one. My current, possibly dead HDD is a Samsung Spinpoint. Here's what happened after a few months of perfect use:

Some .exe's stop working because of missing or corrupted files.
Computer seemed to lag on web surfing.

After a fresh Windows install, I received a bad checksum error. Windows wouldn't even start. After another format and install attempt, everything seems to go fine. I get almost all of my drivers and necessary apps installed, when the computer freezes during Nero installation. Then freezes during World of Warcraft installation. The WoW installation has trouble installing files and will cancel installation.

I open up the case. Some wires are blocking the air duct, so I move them into a tidy spot. I turn the computer back on, and run chkdsk. It fixes several bad sectors in Step 4. Step 5 was taking a while so I went to get a snack, I come back and the HDD is making a loud CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. noise. I restart the comp, and it hangs right before the Windows load screen comes up and continues with the clicking.

End of the road for the HDD?

 

[suicidalpigeon]

someone linked an audio file that reinacts the clicking noise, but most likely that hd is fubar.

 

[Varun]

Definately dead.

I just replaced a WD Notebook drive at work last week, who'd have thought such a small drive could be SO loud

 

[Jiggz]

Run HDD diagnostics from Samsung homepage. It will give you a good idea on the status of the hdd. Try zero'ing it and burn test it. If it passes, continue using it but only for storage purposes. I still will not trust the hdd for sensitive data.

 

[Lord Evermore]

No matter what, if there are bad sectors now, there will be more in the future. Best idea is to go ahead and replace it as soon as you can, but not like you have to rush to the store this moment to get one unless you have critical data on it.