Is My HDD On Its Way Out?

[#1]

Lately I have noticed the clicking noise coming from my HDD Im sure, I know that this means Its on Its road to death. But This noise only happens perhaps once every 30 mins to an hour and Its not a click,click,click, Its just the one click.
Advice would be appreciated, Its not even one year old and its a Sata drive and smart tools I have report no problem, But would smart tools report the problem if its that needle that's going wrong inside my HDD?

[#2]

assume it is and get prepared with backup kit.  get an external drive to back up what's on the apparently failing drive.  consider getting a replacement for the clicking drive.  carry on using it, but be sure to save everything to the external drive.  that clicking could go on for months, or the drive could keel over tomorrow.

[#3]

Thanks for the advice, I back-up with DVDS and I've found another HDD same make as the one I'm using now on my desktop, Never installed a HDD before, Is It easy to do?

[#4]

steve:  find out the hdd manufacturers name  hitachi, western dig etc etc , then go to the mfr website  .most have hdd checking tools for you to d/l free.

[#5]

Thanks for that thisoldman I did try that but It crashed my computer with a constant tone noise, Here's a link of my current HDD Incase anyone can find the diagnostic tool for It?
http://www.hitachigst.com/internal-drives/desktop/deskstar/deskstar-7k1000b

[#6]

hard disk checking in vista . not sure where it is in win 7
right click start button
select explore
right click on your hard-drive
usually C:\
select properties
once in the properties dialog box
select tools
click on error-checking check now button
to run scandisk and repair any bad sectors on your hard drive
test drive for clicks again
here is free  hard drive  checker
http://www.windows7download.com/win7-ariolic-disk-scanner/plhbvibp.html

[#7]

I know where your on about giro, My HDD smart tools report good status with no bad sectors CHKDSK wont be able to tell what the random clicking Is though will It?

[#8]

steve  urgent  delete that website skinflint it crashed me it has a virus  this is what you need

www.hitachigst.com/hdd/technolo/dft/dft.htm

and  run a quick scan on ur pc

[#9]

Thisoldman I have no problems with that page and your link does not work.

[#10]

this is more your cup of tea
it repairs
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html
the random clicking maybe of been  due to the hard drive not being level
as the head parked on a sector
if the  drive checks out ok just back the drive  up
and keep using it
my drive makes all sorts of whirling noise

[#11]

Thanks giro but HDD reports that all Is well, Just one click every so often, Will keep a close eye on things.

[#12]

ok but i wouldn't change it just yet
just
back up your data in any case

[#13]

@Steve M, Try SpinRite it is not Free, but it can save most HD's and fix them.

[#14]

Thankyou Gary, I forgot about that website.

[#15]

And........ just in case..... you get a blue screen..... download the DVD version of Linux Mint 9 Isadora LIVE CD.... you should still be able to access your windows files, from the DVD drive.... (No install necessary)