Freezing, but system drive is fine?

[johnnyblotter]

Hi, I've had periodic trouble booting into windows this week.  Sometimes the bios won't recognize the system drive, sometimes it does.  Now I'm getting a situation where I'm in Windows xp, the computer freezes and there's a high pitched spinning kind of noise which seems like a hard drive.  I ran WD diagnostics on my WD ide 40G system drive.  It passed all the tests.  So if my system drive isn't shot then what else might the problem be?

[Raptor]

It can only test the the drive's platters where information is stored not the mechanical part. If the hard drive makes such sounds, you should quickly back-up important files.

Are you certain it is not a fan that stalls and causes the PC to overheat?

Scan for Viruses, Trojan Horses and Spyware as well to be on the safe side.

[ale52]

Ditto Raptor.  If the hard drive is making noise (and it SHOULDN'T), back up your data PRONTO and replace the drive.

Alan <><