This is all good stuff, thanks!

The personal files and documents, photos etc, are now all safely stored on CDs.

The tech guy at DELL seems sure it's a faulty hard drive.

This laptop doesn't have a floopy disc slot, and from what I've tried to find out so far about re-booting to a CD, I think it's possible though I haven't figured out how yet. Can I just re-boot using the DELL Operating System CDs that say "For reinstallation"?

Also, I did run a diagnostic and the error sign came up but it wouldn't let me continue. The only thing I could do was cancel the test!

I have the laptop propped up between two books so there is a lot of air able to circulate under it as well as around it.

So far so good. I just need to decide if I'll take the chance and leave it in sleep mode on the chance it'll come back up when I'm ready to try to deal with it again!

..xx..e