Laptop Knocked Over, New High-Pitched Noise

So on Wed. 3/30 I was sitting in class minding my own business with my laptop on my desk. This oblivious fool (sorry, just a bit frustrated since he was completely unapologetic) turns around as he's walking down the aisle and knocks my laptop right off my desk. It hits the ground pretty solidly on its side. The laptop was on and stayed on after the fall. The desk was around 3 feet above the floor.

Now I am able to access my memory and everything just fine however I can now notice a high-pitched "eep" noise coming from my laptop. I understand this may be the hard drive, but does this noise alone indicate the hard drive will eventually fail? Whether the noise indicates hard drive damage, is there anything I can do about it?

It'll be under warranty until at least the end of July, so if it's going to crash, it really needs to before then.

A bit off topic, but on the legal side: Do you suggest I get the guy's information just in case it does fail, or let it slide? Can I legally slap him with any repair/parts bills?

I may be acting a bit paranoid (the thing cost me nearly a grand and I've taken very good care of it). Yes it was an accident, but I'm a broke college student and frankly can't afford to go buy a new hard drive. Plus, as I mentioned, the guy didn't seem to care that he knocked it over, so I'm a little inclined to bite back.

EDIT: What else should I be checking on my laptop after this incident? Any system checks or anything?

For starters you should try to identify where the noise is coming from. Put your ear right beside the laptop, in various locations until you find where the noise is the loudest. It's quite possibly the hard drive, but it could also be a fan, so check that out as well. If it does seem to be from the fan, take a straw or something similar and gently put it in between the blades, don't leave it there for more than a second or two, but if the noise stops, then you will know that it's the fan and not the hard drive. Hard drives usually make a clicking or grinding noise, but they can make a high pitched "squeal" too. Whatever it is, you should get it fixed before your warranty runs out.

What specific model of laptop do you have?

Ok, I'll keep trying to pinpoint the noise source buts its a little difficult.

Its a light/smaller laptop at 13.3"/5 lbs, the Asus U35Jc

So I can have them repair/replace the hard drive under warranty even if it hasn't failed yet and I'm unsure of the actual damage?

and thanks for the help!

You will have to consult your warranty information for what is covered or not covered. They certainly should cover a HDD failure, whether or not they cover damage incurred by it dropping 3 feet...... I don't know. It might say specifically one way or another in your warranty, if it's not clearly stated then you will have to contact ASUS about that.

It's looking like Asus won't cover the hard drive until it actually crashes.

However, the guy who did takes complete responsibility and gave me his info if anything really bad happens. I'll just wait and hope it doesn't knowing I have recourse if it does.

Thanks

I'd guess it's probably a fan. HDs have very little room between "fine" and "dead" in which to make funny noises. Also could be an optical drive if there was a disk in it.