C'mon geezer.... If youve got a mac you should be used to random freezes by now. And the blinking folder icon at the start.... Yer HD hasnt "gone" your mac is just having problems finding some folders it uses for startup. All you need to do is reset your PRAM. Restart then immediately hold down [option]+[applekey]+[R]+[P] (make sure caps lock isnt on) Hold this down till you hear the startup niose a second time..... and woooohoooo yer HD is "back" Now stop whinging and go make me a cuppa tea. Sam