[Onkel Neal]

Ok, gurus: advise me.

My PC has been a little slower lately, and just this week, been getting a lot of Windows - Delayed Write Failed messages and blue screen lockups. Does that sound like a failing hard drive? Can I reinstalled Windows on the drive and not lose any files? I'm guessing no, because a new install would wipe out all the program settings at the least. What's the best approach? Should I transfer all the important stuff to an external HD, then replace the ailing HD (if it is indeed ailing...) with a new HD and reinstall Windows, then all my files?

I did this at least once before, where I added a new HD, made it the master, then slaved the old HD--I could still access the files and programs on the old one.