My HP Pavillion (around 3-4 years old) has a message on start-up:

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://
i9.tinypic.com/4uuyx6f.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by
TinyPic"></a>

Can someone tell me if this is a real message? It also fails the
CHKDSK on step 4 (of 5, the file checking part).

I am not a hardware person, but I think I can do the following, if
someone would do a sanity check and tell me if I am on the right
track:

1. Remove the HP DVD, it does not write disks, and the Sony does, so
its redundant.
2. Install a new HD, maybe something NOT a Maxtor in its place
(slave). I will have 3 HDs at this point (this ok?)
3. Try to copy as much of the Maxtor onto the new drive. I dunno if
the Maxtor will fail at this point.
4. Remove the Maxtor.

Perhaps someone could recommend me a drive. I was going to get one in
Best Buy. Would like 500GB or more. The failing one is 300GB.

Thanks for any help or tips!

Dean