Disappearing 2nd HDD with some noise

It started last night, I was on my computer and went to the kitchen for a few minutes and came back to see that it restarted but it won't go past the "starting windows" text. The logo/graphics won't even pop up. So I removed the battery and unplugged and restarted. I noticed that the HP logo where it shows you the option to go to Start up Menu, BIOS etc... is taking a long time before it shifts to the windows start up. This has never happened to me before. When it does go to the windows start up, it also takes awhile before it goes to the log in part. Or it doesn't even let you log in. While the delays are happening, there are noticeable noises coming from one side. There would be a short clicking sound or at times white noise similar to a radio with no reception but more static. Also, there's a beep noise.

So I went to the Startup Menu and did the Hard Disk test, Memory test, Run in test, Start up test, system tuneup and even battery test. All passed. I did both long and short DST for Hard disk and both passed.

The first time I went to the BIOS to do some diagnostics, it didn't recognise my 2nd HDD. When I went in again, it showed it was there. So I did the 2nd HDD DST. The Short DST doesn't even move. And the noises are constant.


I just got this laptop last October 2010. Here are the basic specs:

-HP Pavilion dv7
-Win7 Home
-i7-720QM Quad Core 1.60GHz
-1GB ATI card for Quad Core
-6GB for ram
-I have 2 internal HDD, one with OS and one for backup. They're both from Seagate Model#ST9320423AS, SATA 3Gb/s interface, 320GB capacity, 16MBcache, 7200 rpm

I can't get past the starting windows screen even if I choose Windows recovery vs. starting windows normally. Also I can't get into safemode no matter how many times I press on F8.

I know this is long but I wanted to be detailed as much as I can. I've never dealt with hardware problems so this sucks. Please someone enlighten me. Thank you!

 

I'd guess that the 2nd hard drive is shot. Pull it and contact HP for advice.

 

I had a feeling that I'd have to replace it

To make things clear, my busted slave drive is affecting my booting, safe mode, system recovery, speed etc?????

Just an update, I finally got into safe mode but that too took really slow for the drivers to load and that's in safe mode! Insane :tas So I went directly to My Computers, it shows both HDD but my 2nd one doesn't show any properties like capacity and such. I go to device manager, same thing it shows both HDD but one would have no info.

 

Back up any important data from the main hard drive to a USB stick/drive/whatever and call HP with a view to replacing the machine under warranty.