ebook compatibility

but a storm knocked out my internet last sunday, and its only now gotten back on.

I already know this now, but didn't know it ten years ago when I bought the drive.
I think the only reason this WD drive still functions is because I haven't used it It is my backup. I've copied files to it half a dozen times and then put it away (I've never had a WD drive that survived more than 5 years of regular use, and I'll never buy another)
Wiping the drive is not an option. The drive itself is worthless. But the data on it represents hundreds of hours of work that can't be replaced
If I go through "Folders", I can access the software that came preinstalled on the WD drive, but not the data files. Can I remove/delete the WD Smartware locking software from the drive, and my computer, and have access to the data? I'm really not sure of all that I can remove from the WD drive without compromising its basic functionality
And since Win7 hadn't yet been invented when I got this WD drive, has anyone since come out with a driver package for it to work on a Win7 machine?
Come on Bob, you're way more knowledgeable than me, give me a clue, a link or something. Throw me a bone with some meat on it
Thanks

If a drive is locked with some software, removing the software can lose access to all that is on the drive.

If you say this works on pre-W7 I have been able to install XP to a spare laptop at the office for the sole purpose of copying out the files to a normal drive.

If you say you can get into the folders, I wonder if the issue is how to open these files?

Could put a file up on the web like Dropbox for others to see if they can open them?

Oh yeah, on both machines I get a windows popup box that says I need to format the drive before I can use it I always cancel that, because I assume it will erase any files on it.

I can't get to any of my files on it to post online

It occurred to me that maybe theres nothing wrong with the drive or its software, that my files simply aren't there any more.
I uninstalled the WD Smartware software from both machines. I can unlock the drive and open it, but it only displays the pre-installed software that came with it and nothing else.
If I go through "My Computer", it shows that the drive is connected, but doesn't display any information about it, and I can't open it from there
So I got to thinking about file recovery. I googled around, and downloaded and installed some freeware from easeuscom It took a while, but eventually it displayed all the files I had on the machine the last time I was able to use it. But I couldn't verify their existance, because, like most freeware, "you can look but you can't touch" until you buy the premium version. And I'm not willing to do that for a company with a chinese name I've never heard of.
But it really didn't answer the question about whether the files are still there or not.
Which brings me back to Cnet. I hate getting scammed, paying my money and not getting anything. I've used other forums, but you guys are the only ones I trust.
Can you and/or your co-mods recommend some recovery software from a legitimate, honest company that works, for under $100 ? I sure would appreciate it

That means you are in the DIY realm.

Go get RECUVA and see if you can copy files out.

That's free and over in the CNET STORAGE FORUM I have the sticky for the Forum at the top with other Free titles.

Of course RECUVA is look but don't touch!!!!!!!! It only allows us to copy files out since writing can do more damage.

I used the RECUVA free, and it found over 5,000 files, but only about 3300 were recoverable. I'm busy sorting them into folders now
The readout page says the good files weren't deleted, but the bad ones were overwritten and are unrecoverable. But are they really unrecoverable?
Also, is there a way to export the list of all the files recuva found, especially the ones I lost? I can probably replace a lot of them, and I'd like to be able to just get rid of this old drive
Thanks again

That's better than total loss.