WD Passport 160G USB Not Recognized by Windows

[Convergent Design]

I have an older WD passport that is 160GB. When I plug it into the Windows machine USB port windows says it does not recognize the USB and will not let me access the drive. The drive spins up and the blue light goes on and I can feel the drive spinning. I see in the Device Manager on Windows that the USB is not recognized. I have tried a lot of the suggestions from searching on line and have removed all the USB drivers and had them re-installed. Still the same behavior. I have heard that sometimes the firmware gets locked out. I really do not know if I want to spend the $400 to have a data recovery specialist look at it as I do not know what I am loosing. Is there some way to at least see what files were on the drive? Is there some SW that will allow me to do some diagnostics? I do not know what I can do if I can not get it to connect to the USB on a PC. It does not show up as a drive in explorer on the PC either.

Thanks in advance.

SA.

 

[pclab]

Usually, what I do on an assessment of a drive, is that I always give a list of files to the client for him to confirm.
If he doesn't accept it, the case is closed.
So, why not contact a DR company?

 

[Convergent Design]

I did go see a company. They did not suggest this but I asked.
They told me $100 to just see the list of the files.
I would like to see the list and decide before I commit to the $400.
Hence I am trying to get some way to see the files on my own.

Thanks.

 

[pclab]

The problem is that the more you fiddle with the drive, the more damage you can do to it and after you can increase the value of a recovery...