Hard Drive Problem?

[mic]

I have an older computer that was left on for 24h during a scan disk fix and then became extremely sluggish (10 min to close 1 program) and then would click loudly. Whenever I try to start it now a boot screen comes up and tells me that due to a disk error I must start the computer in Safe Mode (I cannot select any other presented options). However, the computer does not boot up properly (black screen with a small white square in the upper left corner) and then begins to click- not prior to or during startup. I was just wondering if this is common when the hard drive fails or could this be another problem?
Thanks.

[seans]

I'd bet this disk in question is an older IBM "DEATHSTAR" err, deskstar drive, the clicks of death are a well known hint that the drive is gonna roll over and die at any second.

The only suggestion I have is get a new drive and install it as the primary (with windows) in that pc and attach the clicking drive to the secondary controller and hope you can copy your data files off the dieing drive before it is kaput for good.

[ECA]

NEW drive...FAST...