If you want a better chance to get data off the drive and to completely wipe data, not just format it, then download a Linux Mint DVD and use that. It boots directly to a DVD with a file manager and some tools to also secure wipe a drive. I'd advise putting the second drive into an USB drive enclosure first.
A little back story, recently I go to open up my Laptop, (Toshiba Qosmio) and it would get stuck in a boot loop never actually loading to windows. It would go into the recovery menu after 3 load attempts but nothing would work, every option I tried would come back failed. This laptop has 2 Hard drives, a primary SSD that windows is installed on, and a secondary disc hard drive I use as storage. So I tried replacing my primary hard drive with a back up ssd I have, and still would not load windows. Then I removed the secondary storage drive and as soon as this drive was removed everything loaded back up fine.
I find this really strange that a secondary Hard Drive stopped windows from loading, it just has my storage files on it. The Hard Drive in question is a Seagate FireCuda 2tb, I purchased about a year ago and has been running fine up to this point.
I tried loading the hard drive in my Hard Drive docking station, but I get nothing. Every other hard drive I have will immediately pop up as soon as its powered on this one does nothing. I do hear it powering on and spinning however. Seagate has some diagnostics tools however none of them can find this hard drive, its not showing up anywhere.
Anyone have any special tricks or tips to fixing this? It looks like Seagate does warranty this drive, however I really don't feel comfortable sending them my hard drive knowing all of my personal files are still on there. I wish I could atleast get access to format it...

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic