[ploush]

Yes, I have an installation CD

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I hope you didn't have a lot of important files on the drive...for all intent and purpose, they are now gone.

To get this machine running, we'll have to start from the beginning by wiping the drive, creating a new partition, formatting the partition, and installing the OS. This leads to the question, "What caused this?" Had you been getting any errors or system hangs before this happened? Had the HDD been making any unusual noises?

[wannabe1]

I hope you didn't have a lot of important files on the drive...for all intent and purpose, they are now gone.

To get this machine running, we'll have to start from the beginning by wiping the drive, creating a new partition, formatting the partition, and installing the OS. This leads to the question, "What caused this?" Had you been getting any errors or system hangs before this happened? Had the HDD been making any unusual noises?

[ploush]

It's an old computer. I was trying to clean it before it froze. But I don't think I deleted any important file. My brother had installed some games but he didn't used them anymore so I was removing them from the computer. In fact, I had some error messages when I was trying to remove things. But the only thing those messages said was that I couldn't remove those programs for I don't remember what reasons. Then it froze.... and now when I start the computer, it does make some funny noices.

What should I do?

[wannabe1]

Can you describe the noise? Is it clicking, squealing, ratcheting sounds, etc...?

[ploush]

It's hard to explain.... It's kinda like a clicking.....

[wannabe1]

Does it sound like any of THESE?

[ploush]

Uhm, it's not exactly the same thing, but it is similar to the head_damage_3 noise.

[wannabe1]

That would explain a lot. Head damage can cause the drive to detect intermittently, make it unable to access the data and formatting properly, and so on. It would basically answer the question, "What caused this?"

My advice at this point would be to replace the HDD rather than try to use the current drive. We can try if you'd like, but I think the procedure will prove very problematic...IF it can even be completed successfully at all.

[ploush]

So, the only other possibility is to buy a new computer. Is that it?

[wannabe1]

Not at all. But a new Hard Drive would be in order. There are some pretty good deals to be had out there. Our local Staples has 80GB drives on sale for $59.95 at the moment.

[My2Cents]

Many people call there computer tower a harddrive !