computer is taking time to turn on

[msfcool]

i have bought my own pc in 2004 november n hd never problem in it but i observe that whenever i use to turn on my pc it takes 5-10 seconds n then the power led gets on n then some movement is observed in pc like cpu fans starts n all the other functions but in other systems like my frends pc or systems in my college they get started witout taking any time like as i push the on button the cpu fan get started and all the other functions...

now from 2 weeks back whenever i am pushing the button on. i am hearing cut-cut-cut sound from my cpu unable to recognize whether it is coming from mother board or hard disk n this continues for 5-8 minutesn then the power led is getting on but cpu fan starts working as soon as i push the button on.

n after that system is not booting properly whenever it starts to boot it get re-start, after 5-6 time of re-start it says that window was not able to start beacause there was a change in
hardware configurations but i did not change any hardware configuration in my pc. it ask whether to start windows normally or the other options n i select normal window to start up n then it gets normal boot up n system works perfectly no problems while running games n other operations

i tried selecting option to start windows with best recent configuration but still i am facing the same problem n now from 2-3 days back my system is getting automatically restart after system is on for 4-5 hours.

plz help me what should i do

i am sorry my english is not good n above that i had written a lot of words too but i just want that my problem to be understand by anyone who reads it

[The New Normal]

I'm thinking your Power Supply Unit (PSU) might be on it's way out, but someone else might have another idea.

PSU's are not all that expensive for a 350W or 400W one, but I'd wait to see if there's a more simple solution from someone (does anyone know if a flat CMOS battery cause this?)

[msfcool]

yes ur rite that some time psu is kept on but why this clunk clunk sounds come from my hard disk when i turn on my computer n after 5-8 min it gets stop n then computer gets started n their also i get a problem it restart 4-5 times n then system get booted i mean then windows get started..

i heard when hard disk starts damaging this clunk sounds come n it keeps on coming but here in my case it come only when i turn my system on for 5-8 minutes

[The New Normal]

Sorry, I obviously didn't read your first post properly.

If your hard drive is making a tick-tick sound, like it's turning on and off, it may be about to die. I'd start by backing up any essential stuff (like work/school documents) onto a disk right now just in case.