hd dying, need help

[Kasm]

My hd is starting to die, my compuer randomly freezes and upon restart pc says i have no hd. If I restart enough time, the hd does spin up. So I am buying a new hd. Is there a way to copy this hd to the new one so windows will function? Preferable without me having to buy software to do it.

[Xaotic]

Here's a guide to some of the basics:

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=418&page=2

and two of the programs mentioned are freeware. I prefer PowerQuest's Drive Image, but it's not freeware. Back up any important data quick. The drive may die at any time.

[Kendan]

you could also use the software from the drive manufacturer of the new drive. If you think the old one is bad run the drive diagnostic software from that drives manufacturer.