Hard Drive Click of DEATH_but boots/works fine in safe mode???

Good Day and thanks in advance for any help!

I have a DELL XPS running MS XP Media Center ver 2002 SP 3
Intel Core 2Quad CPU
Q6600@ 2.40ghz
2.40 ghz 3.00 GB ram
(I think that is how it is suppose to be written, actually greek to me).

When I boot in normal mode, once everything finally loads (which takes at least 10 minutes and even a slight mouse movement takes 10 to 20 seconds), I hear a clicking noise. From the Google searches I have titled this as "the click of death". However, when I boot in safe mode everything works fine....except although disk manager says that my newly connected Buffalo 3.0 TB external hard drive is installed, I can't see it under my computer. And, yes, I am an idiot and am only now trying to back up my data.

I am totally clueless when it comes to computers, but my logical thinking says that if safe mode works, then it's not my internal hard drive???

 

You're running the 32-bit version of XP Media Center. The 32-bit version of any PC Operating System has a limit of 2TB disk size and access. It won't see the 3TB drive so, therefore, it won't show in "My Computer". When you start in safe mode, all connected devices are ignored. Try booting normally without the external drive connected and see if things go back to normal.

Did the "clicking" come from the computer or the external drive? If it came from the external drive, get a warranty (it's still under warranty isn't it?) replacement.

 

That clicking sound could also be coming from that annoying Windows Explorer "click" sound when it accesses files.

 

Thanks so much for the replies. I guess I left a few details out....sorry panic mode is in over-drive.
The clicking sound started at the same time my computer slowed and basically became unresponsive. I tried all the basic steps, restart, updates, virus scans....did the google searches and determined "the click of death" theory. I then tried booting in safe mode. and everything was fine. I shut the machine down, purchased the external hard drive and that's where I stand. I believe that the hard drive is going out and the purchase of the external hard drive was an attempt to get my data off, because I'm an idiot and don't have it backed up.
Like I said, when I do a normal boot, it is slow to load and an even a mouse click takes now almost a minute to respond...I mean I double click on "my computer" and it takes almost five minutes to respond. In fear of the hard drive completely dying, I have shut it down and have posted here for help.

So, should I take the 3 TB hard drive back and get a 1 or 2 TB instead?
Is my hard drive really dying?
Should I find a cloud service to upload my data to before I lose it?

I guess first things first, why can I access all my files and systems in safe mode but not normal boot?

Again, any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

 

Take the 3TB drive back and get the 1 or 2 TB drive. We have no idea of what programs are loaded on startup in normal mode. Most are disabled in safe mode. If the 1 or 2 TB drive can be connected and recognized by the computer in safe mode, transfer your important data while in safe mode. The internal drive controller circuitry on the drive's circuit board could be failing in which case, you'll need to replace the hard drive and re-install Windows, updates and your apps.

 

Does the clicking stop once it is fully booted, if it continues I think the system is seeking but not finding something. Go into control panel then Administrator Tools then Event Log, look over the errors. Post the most recent prevalent ones.

 

No matter what, make sure your data is backed up.

If this is the original hard drive, I would suspect it is near, or at the end of it's service life. If all seems to be ok in Safe Mode(w/networking), install and run HDSentinel and tell us the results.

Just use the free version. It will scan your HDD and tell you what shape it's in.

 

Since you're running XP, like Oldphil says, you can use event viewer by going to Start -> Run and type in "eventvwr" (without the quotes) and press enter. But like plodr says, run msconfig and give us the list of startup programs.