well. I took the drive to my man at RE-PC and he had it overnight. today I got it back and it's alive and transferring files now. it started up fine w/o clicks.
he said it must be a bad enclosure/controller. -but he didn't check it. didn't have the power cord. I didn't bring it cause he said he'd have one..
but he backed up my stuff and sold me an IDE/SATA patch cord thing, you all know what I'm talking about. so as I said I'm home copying the files.
plus I got another TB external.
so I guess I'll keep this old 80GB drive on a shelf somewhere and sort out a back up process for myself.
I used to think if I had important files stored off my computer on an external they'd be safe, because my main fear was loss due to windows crashing and the need to reinstall.
this has made me realise that one copy of a file off my comp isn't a back up. minimum 2 copies. nice to lean that without an actual loss of data.
this is the same guy that helped my transfer from my old NT computer. I'd forgotten to tell him it was raided ( I didn't know it would matter that much) and we nearly lost the whole thing cause it had been partly taken apart. we went through hell for this data and he didn't charge me for all the screw ups. but I felt it was partly my fault for not telling him it was raided.
anyway, this help he gave me now was free. aside from the help I get here (and thanks alot for your thoughts on this) I'll be a loyal customer of this guy when I need some hands on work.