After you get your critical data backed up, install and run Belarc Advisor, then save the results to the same backup drive (the log is saved as a HTML file, so look for the file, and the folder that goes with it). It will list all of your installed software and licenses/software keys to make reinstallation easier. When you have done that, and you are prepared for your drive to fail and ready to buy a new drive, Google Hiren's CD, download and burn it to a CD. It has lots of tools to help. Boot the PC from the CD, run the DOS programs, and use the Hard Disk tools. There are tools to test your Hard Drive and attempt to recover bad sectors. You can try that before you buy a new drive, but it is a rare drive that comes back to life with full health. Also, there are Tools to copy all of your info to a new drive, you can try that before you erase what you have, it would be easier than a complete reinstall.