How can a brand new HD fail after 10 days?

I just bought and installed a new Maxtor SATA hard drive in my G5 Mac, and it worked fine for 10 days, then froze my computer suddenly and started clicking. Any reason the HD would fail this quickly? And how long after it starts clicking is the data unrecoverable? Finally, do I have to send it to a drive recovery company to recover the data, or is there a way I can do it myself if I can’t mount the drive from the OS?

Too bad, you got a lemon. Happened to me one time, think it was an IBM/hitachi drive. Freak accidents happen all the time
It might also be that your HD is overheating in your mac… how warm does it get in there? (I have little Mac experience)

Anyway, if it is clicking it might be a locked head. What you might try is freezing your hard drive: http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/01/freeze-your-hard-drive-to-recover-data.html

Note that I take no responsibility for you doing this etc. etc. but I tried it once and it allowed me to get some data (google for it: freeze HD should do it). Only if you are feeling adventurous (you will have to pry open your computer and remove the HD etc).

Last time I checked, professional recovery companies charge plenty for recovery.