This morning when I powered on my computer, XP failed to load at all (total black screen, HD light stuck on). One thing that got my attention was the ticking noise coming from my WD400EB 40GB HD. Now, I know this is not an ordinary HD sound, it was a distinct repeating loud TICK sound, something I have never heard from a HD before (espescially this one, since its normally wisper quiet).I was able to boot into Linux from my 6GB, and i'm in the process of backing up most of my stuff (to be on the safe side, and I think i'm lucky the 40GB works right now).Having XP not boot and having my main HD tick at the same time does not feel comforting LOL.Question is, is this a sign of a HD failure coming, or am I overreacting over as simple thing? I am still convinced that a constant loud ticking noise from a HD is not a good sound LOL.Thanks a lot,

I will be straight forward, your in trouble ;-) My dad's HDD did the same thing a while back, and he lost his HDD within days of that happening. So, all in all, not good ;-) Good thing you are backing up your HDD right now...

Weirdest thing, it stopped ticking and XP loads. I have thrown every test I could find at it and it passed every one. I even got a S.M.A.R.T monitor and everything is well below limits. :-hmmm I guess only time will tell if its gonna fail or not. I still have my backup's ready and a temporary replacement drive handy for just in case it does fail.

Good to hear, I hope it won't fail on you. :)

Over the years I've had this happen twice. Last time the problem seemed to come and go - a bit like you describe - and all the tests I threw at them came out fine. Anyway, sure enough both drives died soon after.Good to hear you managed a back-up! I wasn't so lucky with my first KIA.Both were WD drives BTW.Cheers,Paulhttp://www.strontiumdog.plus.com/sbird.jpgOfficially licenced by British Airways plc for use of name and logo[p]AMD XP2800+ Barton, Gigabyte GA-7NNXP nForce2, 1Gig Crucial PC3200 DDR 400MHz, Gainward 128 MB GF4-4200, SB Audigy, 3 x WD Caviar SE[/p]

Seen this many times in the past, so expect the worst! Keep the backups (ghost, tape, whatever) and start saving for a replacement. In the mean time, check the drive manufacturers website for diagnostic and health-check programs to put the drive through it's paces (ie. IBM has "Drive Fitness Test"). Caution though, as many of programs are destructive and will overwrite anything on the hard disk.If I had a good backup and was in your shoes, I'd test the $^*%@ out of it for at least 24 hours straight. Of course, other things to look at may be the power supply, loose connectors, etc.Hope for the best, but expect the worst! - Tom