More computer problems

[Gainy]

For the past month or two, my computer has periodically been making disturbing noises like a typewriter. Although eventually this has always stopped and gone back to normal.
However, today, it was really going for it with all the noises, it just didn't shut up So I shut it down hoping that would stop it.

After about a minute, I went to boot it up, and the noises started again. The boot process was going as it should (but with the noises), and after exiting the 'Windows is Loading' screen (i'm using XP with SP2) which has the little bar that moves around, the screen just went blank, and stayed that way -- all the while, the computer was making noises like a typewriter.
Confused, I got a screwdriver and opened it up. The noise was coming from the hard disk. Shut it down, made sure everything was connected properly, and booted it up. Again, the HD gave it its all with the typewriter noises, and now it asks me what mode I want to boot in. Safe mode, normal mode, etc. I choose normal, it goes through the 'Windows is Loading' screen again, and then it just restarts.
Now that is all the computer does. Regardless of what mode I choose, it just refuses to fully boot, and restarts.

I can access the BIOS, and nothing seems dodgey (from a computer-simpleton's perspective), it says everything is functioning fine. Alas, it isn't
Regarding the noises, when my computer was running, but doing nothing, they would still happen. I could go away for 5 mins, come back, and it'd still be going strong.

I really have no idea what is wrong, any help would be much appreciated

PS: When I try to boot in safe mode, when it is loading the drivers, it stops at my AGP slot thingie. This would point to the graphics card? But still doesn't explain the fooked up noises from the HD...

Edit: I have a maxtor HD if it makes a difference...

 

[Crazy Eddie]

Here's a .pdf file (zipped) that you might find useful.
200 ways to recover a hard disk

If you can recover any data transfer it to a new HD, quickly. The one you'e got sounds like a write-off to me.

 

[General Joey]

Plan a burial. You HDD is not going to last long.

 

[Gainy]

I took some of the advice on that file, IE hitting it and hoping for the best, alas it did not work

Then I realised that the Floppy Drive is directly above the HD. On touching it, it felt like the vibrations (that come with the typewriter sound) were coming from that - Which pissed me off no end, as I had just formatted the HD

So if it is actually the Floppy Drive causing the problems, is there any way y'all can think of in which I could resolve them?

Thanks for your time btw

 

[Crazy Eddie]

That'll learn you to check more carefully in future.

Just disconnect the floppy, if the loading problems stop it'll prove that the floppy is the problem. Anything that starts to make lots of loud unnecessary noises in a computer is on it's way out.

 

[Gainy]

nyah, bugger it. Disconnected the floppy drive last night, only to find out it isn't that which is causing the problems. It is infact the HD I'm just going to try and get a new HD, thanks for the help anyways