hardrive going down?

[jm82792]

Recently my bios progress bar that usually lasts 2 seconds hangs for much longer.
I hear a bit of soft clicking(sort of what old computers would put out under load) initially then it proceeds to boot.
Ubuntu will boot, windows takes forever and doesn't.
I'm assuming I should order a hardrive Now and move my stuff over?
My computer is only 3 years old but I guess crap can happen whenever.

[Nux]

First thought: What have you done recently that could have affected your computer's performance? (e.g. Touched the hardward? Visited dodgy sites?)

Second thought: What haven't you done in a while to maintain your computer's function? (e.g. Defrag, Security or plain ol' Dusting)

[CreatureofHell]

I had the clicking with my last external harddrive. It doesn't work anymore. I'd be worried if I were you.

[jm82792]

The only thing I can think of is I tried to install an upgrade for GRUB.
I removed everything, but before I installed it(Or did any form of computer related changes) I was having some slow bootups and issues.
From what I've read defragging isn't needed for Linux.
I don't visit any sort of dodgy sites..
I dusted my computer around 7 months ago and it's due for it again but the buildup isn't bad currently.
This little event made me realise how valuable to me some of the stuff on my computer is.
I ordered a new hardrive for my computer, I'll install it and then clone over my old hd.

[gimhael]

Use smartmontools to check the disk. If it reports any values below the threshold or close to it, better start making backups.

[Anonymoose]

So the hdd clicking is during post? what about after that? under stress?
Are you certain the clicking comes from the hdd?
Also what brand is the hdd in question? Some brands *cough western digital* have a really noisy head park now days...

Hard disk drives are funny things, some die rather abruptly, some live on well past expectation. I have a few really old 512MB hdds that have seen years of use and abuse, they make all kinds of funny noises but they don't miss a beat.
I wouldn't be worried, maybe backup important things and continue using the current one.

[Qrntz]

That's pretty much asking for a new HDD, I think. Anyway, check the S.M.A.R.T. status of it.
Also, answers to Anonymoose's questions would be helpful.

I dusted my computer around 7 months ago and it's due for it again

Either your air cooling is doing it wrong or I'm living in another universe by the way. D:
Mine felt perfectly okay after 4.5 years of running and the recent dusting (actually, yesterday) didn't take a degree off the Tjunction sensors.
IIRC, there needs to be more exhaust airflow than intake to prevent dust buildup.

[vcxzet]

it looks like a grub problem
reinstall with --no-floppy ?

[Nux]

Either your air cooling is doing it wrong or I'm living in another universe by the way. D:
Mine felt perfectly okay after 4.5 years of running and the recent dusting (actually, yesterday) didn't take a degree off the Tjunction sensors.
IIRC, there needs to be more exhaust airflow than intake to prevent dust buildup.

I can personally vouch for the fact that owning a cat (or equivalent fur proliferating pet-thing) dramatically increases the need for cleaning out your computer. In the past couple of months I've found the vent of my computer with a cake of dust knitted into it with fur. The temperature in there was stupidly high and it's performance was suffering.

[jm82792]

Yep is a western digital...
During post it clicks, I am almost positive it's the hdd since I had the case door off.
I installed smartmontools and I didn't see anything strange.
Out here we have all our doors and windows open,
plus we have some animals so my computer seems to get a lot of dust.
For what I know GRUB could be acting up and there may be no issue.
Having window only partially bootup is irritating.
Plus I will have a fresh installation of windows and linux.
The prospect of having my hardrive suddenly crapping out scared me into buying another hdd 

[Qrntz]

I can personally vouch for the fact that owning a cat (or equivalent fur proliferating pet-thing) dramatically increases the need for cleaning out your computer. In the past couple of months I've found the vent of my computer with a cake of dust knitted into it with fur. The temperature in there was stupidly high and it's performance was suffering.

That explains it. I've got no furry(for the lack of a better word lol) animals, because of the allergy.

[CorSair]

If it doesn't give warning that hard drive's gonna blow (not literally) and you don't got physical upgrades, it should work for over four years.
(I had that good hdd, even when I abused it by cleaning it only once per year or not at all. You can think the amount of fluff balls inside there.)

[Aviator]

Like a lot of the suggestions above, just try dusting it. My ancient machine has lasted 15 years with no need to replace anything (except a ram upgrade)

[jm82792]

I'll give it a good dusting in a day or two.
I have a GPU related question.
I'd like to upgrade from my puny radeon 3450 to a better gpu because I want to use OpenCL accelerated stuff.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102871&cm_re=5670-_-14-102-871-_-Product
The issues is that my dell 540 studio has a liteon 350 watt psu ,and it's stated that it should have a 400 watt one.
I run a q9400 processor, 6 gigs of ram, an optical drive, wifi card, 1 hdd and I think that's it.
From what I read usually the gpu mfg inflates the power supply requirement.
What do you think?

[Aviator]

I'll give it a good dusting in a day or two.
I have a GPU related question.
I'd like to upgrade from my puny radeon 3450 to a better gpu because I want to use OpenCL accelerated stuff.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102871&cm_re=5670-_-14-102-871-_-Product
The issues is that my dell 540 studio has a liteon 350 watt psu ,and it's stated that it should have a 400 watt one.
I run a q9400 processor, 6 gigs of ram, an optical drive, wifi card, 1 hdd and I think that's it.
From what I read usually the gpu mfg inflates the power supply requirement.
What do you think?

Well, I looked around and found a fairly cheap PSU and I would recommend upgrading.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817170014