HDD heads knocking problem?!

[yahoo]

I run a A7S-VM Asus motherboard with a 800mhz duron as a network workstation using WindowsXP Pro. Since yesterday it has been making odd noises after which, all hdd activity ceases and windows blue screens. The noise is familiar to me, it is the sort of pinging/clicking noise heard when the computer turns itself off after shut down, alhtough now it does about 5 clicks instead of one (i hope your still following me). It also does this when i am in the bios utility, but does not crash (does not require hdd).
So, firsty, des anybody have any idea what is oin on with my system? And secondly, does anybody know where that clicking sound comes from when you turn off a healthy system.
After posting the following paragraph i have been tyold that the heads are shot in my hdd, does anybody have any definate symptoms for it because i really dont wanna buy a new 1
Thanks you guys, you save me every week!

 

[FatesWebb]

your hdds noise that it is makeing is the definite symptom.

also you may even further define it by the blue screen error is it in VMM this is the memory that is store on your hdd.

BUT the most obvious symptom is yet to come, when you system just wont boot.

I have seen this happen OVER AND OVER AGAIN it is your HDD!!!

you even put a different HDD in and didnt have the problem huh?

well that noise is BAD news I can tell you that you should if possible back up your system ASAP!

 

[Mulga]

Just backing up what FatesWebb said.... HDD is shot