Compaq Presario V6000 hard drive making weird noises?

I bought my laptop back in September 2007. Its specifications are: Intel Celeron M 520 1.6 GHz cpu, 160 GB hard drive, and 1 GB ram. I dropped my laptop a year and a half ago hitting its lower right corner close to the DVD drive, effectively knocking the bolt holding that end together. It has never been a fast performer, but it has been making weird noises coming from it hard drive. With my ear close to it, it sounds like a coffee maker. Its not too loud when the normal distance away from my laptop, but every time I do an action that requires the hard drive, it makes that noise. Could it be a sign of a failing hard drive?

Reply 1 : Compaq Presario V6000 hard drive making weird noises?

Would probably be the HDD dieing. Or it could have moved a little and be sitting on something, I'd open it up and re-adjust the HDD and see if that helps. However, I'm lead to believe that the HDD is dieing. How long has this noise been going on for? Since the drop?

Reply 2 : Compaq Presario V6000 hard drive making weird noises?

I don't know exactly how long, but it has been going for a long time. At least a year or so. Thanks for the advice. I will see if adjusting it works.