HP Pavilion dv7 w/ Windows 7 - Imminent Hard Drive Failure

[turn_coat]

A warning window continuously pops up telling me this.  So far the computer is still ticking.  I assume my hard drive is toast, or about to be, but thought I would ask to be safe. 
Before the warnings started, I noticed problems with audio files, watching Youtube clips, etc.  The sound will stall and make a buzz/grinding noise for half a second and then pick back up again.  This all started after I backed my computer up on an external.

[DavidPK]

Hi,

Given the symptoms you describe and the error message, it does all point to the HDD starting to fail.

Shut down the notebook.  Tap away at f10 as you start the notebook to enter the bios menu.  Under the Advanced or Diagnostic tab you should find the facility to run a test on the Hard Drive.  Post back with the details of any error messages.

Regards,

DP-K

[turn_coat]

Survey Says....

Toast!
quick 303
full 305
smart 301

Time to send this puppy in for a face lift.

Thanks.

I am starting to think the backup is not was caused this, just a coincidence.  This thing runs hot enough to make smores and now that summer is here.

[Damarhaney]

Does a imminent hard drive failure means the hard drive is gone completely or is there something I can do?