I need to know what hard drive this computer has. Is it an ATA or SATA. It is making some start up noises and I need to get a new hard drive in case the current one fails. Please advise. Thanks.

Go to Start > Run > Type msinfo32 > Double-click Components > Double-click Storage > Click Drives.
Your drives are all listed in this window, telling you the format of your drives. :)

Alex.