Hard Drive is making a loud noise on my laptop! Help!

Hello,
I have owned my hp envy 17 laptop for almost 2 years now. Recently my computer has been making a really loud noise and it seems it is working a lot harder than it needs to be. I suspect the fan or the hard drive is the culprit but I have convinced myself it is the hard drive. 
When I start up my computer the loud noise begins almost immediately after startup. This noise sounds like the computer is working as hard as it possibly can, almost making a grinding noise. Even after the computer has booted up, this noise continues for another minute or two before it stops, then my laptop becomes quiet. What puzzles me, and leads me to believe it is the hard drive, is the fact my computer get unreasonably hot when the noise occurs; it never used to do this before. 
This is not what confuses and annoys me the most, it is the sound reoccurring again. This situation is something I have never heard of before. My laptop for some reason ,when it is moved or bumped, even the slightest, start to "rev" and the hard drive roars; it does this for five minutes or so. It also does this when the laptop is closed, and in "sleep mode"; the slightest bump lets it off like a baby. I suspect that there is a switch, flap or wire that is not attached properly and when moved it triggers the hard drive. 
I have found a few small solutions to this problem. The main thing I do when the sound occurs is I close the laptop lid which puts it in sleep mode and turns off the hard drive, silencing it for the time being. This solution I came across by accident; I turned my laptop sideways when the sound occurs and the sound stops until I put the laptop upright again(Laptop is open). 
I would like to hear your thoughts on this, a solution you might of have encountered or any explanation of the cause; also explain any costs. I have partially opened up my laptop and it looks in order to me with the dust at a minimum. I'd rather check online for a solution first before bringing it to a computer repair shop which, i'm willing to do as a last resort.
Sincerely,
Greg
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Without hearing the sound it is hard to judge but it does not sound like a hard drive from your description. Hard drive noise is usually a rhythmic "click" not a sustained "whirr". That kind of noise comes from a cooling fan. We can test the hard drive in the BIOS. Tap F2 as you power up to enter UEFI diagnostics and look for the hard drive test. If you do not have UEFI diagnostics (i.e. your laptop came with Windows 7 not Windows 8) then tap F10 and look for a hard drive diagnostic in the old-school BIOS interface. 
The Envy 17 series tends to run hot and cooling fan issues are not uncommon. Sometimes it can be fixed by self-help such as blowing out the fan with compressed air. If it is the fan, the replacement fan is not too expensive but labor might run $80-150 for replacing the fan. Post back with any questions. 
If you are going to post back please give us your full model number found on the bottom of the laptop or in the battery bay. 

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