Getting a SMART Hard Disk Error message upon boot

[godspeedsucks]

Today, I booted up my laptop and found it showing an error message: (not my pic) 

I ran the system diagnostics test twice, both times the result being something wrrong with the "Hard Drive Short DST".

The first time this error popped up, I pressed continue, and continued using my laptop. During use, however, I heard some sounds from under the keyboard, like some kind of weird occasional mechanical-sounding "pop" noise. Then, my laptop froze (something that happens roughly twice a day nowadays), so I force turned it off by holding the power button. Upon turning it back on, I was greeted with this message again and then decided to run the tests.

So...I assume I'm supposed to back up my Hard Drive now, right? What exactly is the HD Short DST, anyway?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[CherylG · Accepted solution]

DST = drive self test and a failure means the hard drive has failed/is failing and will need to be replaced. If you are still in warranty HP will replace it. If not a retail 2.5" laptop SATA hard drive can be used-Western Digital,Seagate,Toshiba,etc

Just be sure to get one of at least equal capacity as the original in order to use HP Recovery Media to install Windows. It can be larger, but not smaller capacity.For instance if you have a 500GB hdd you could use a 750GB hdd but not a 320GB hdd.

[godspeedsucks]

So...how exactly would the recovery tool work? If I replace my HDD and put the new one onto my computer, how will I access Windows, as the new HDD would have no software on it? Is there some built-in program that immediately launches this recovery media as soon as loading a brand-new HDD?

[CherylG]

You will boot from the Recovery Media after replacing the hdd- by tapping F9 key immediately after powering on. Boot from it and it  installs Windows and all software and drivers.