Rapid clicks just before Welcome screen

[Knack]

HP pavilion xf255 laptop with WinXPP.

Just when the WinXPP splash screen goes black (just before the Welcome
screen) a "rapid fire" of clicks is momentarily heard. This doesn't bode
well for the life of the 2.5" HDD. I've already tried chkdsk /f on the
volume and there were no errors to be fixed.

Is the noise the sound of the head colliding with the limit of its traverse?
Is this the beginning of the end of the HDD? Or suggestions as to how to
prevent the clicking from happening?

 

[CS]

HP pavilion xf255 laptop with WinXPP.

Just when the WinXPP splash screen goes black (just before the Welcome
screen) a "rapid fire" of clicks is momentarily heard. This doesn't bode
well for the life of the 2.5" HDD. I've already tried chkdsk /f on the
volume and there were no errors to be fixed.

Is the noise the sound of the head colliding with the limit of its traverse?
Is this the beginning of the end of the HDD? Or suggestions as to how to
prevent the clicking from happening?

Is the machine still under warranty? In any event, you should
probably give HP tech support a call and inquire about the hard drive.
Also, now is a good time to make a complete backup of the drive to CDR
or some other removable media.

 

[Knack]

Is the machine still under warranty? In any event, you should
probably give HP tech support a call and inquire about the hard drive.
Also, now is a good time to make a complete backup of the drive to CDR
or some other removable media.

Out of warranty by about 4 months. Have Ghost 2001, and the laptop has a
CD-R, but I never tried that on this computer before. I guess it's about
time then.

 

[Rod Speed]

HP pavilion xf255 laptop with WinXPP.

Just when the WinXPP splash screen goes black (just before
the Welcome screen) a "rapid fire" of clicks is momentarily heard.
This doesn't bode well for the life of the 2.5" HDD. I've already
tried chkdsk /f on the volume and there were no errors to be fixed.

Did it click when doing that ?

Is the noise the sound of the head colliding with the limit of its traverse?

Yes, but thats normal with a recalibrate.

Likely the drive is having problems reading some of the files used at
boot time and the drive recalibrates when it has a problem reading them.

Is this the beginning of the end of the HDD?

Very likely. Its crucial to save the stuff that you'll
slash your wrists if you lose to more than one
CDR, even if you have to run out and buy a burner.

Or suggestions as to how to prevent the clicking from happening?

Basically replace the drive.

Run the laptop diagnostics on the drive and if it claims the drive
is fine, run the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic on the drive.