My hard drive is really messed up.

[MUSTANG347]

I need to get into this WD 120gig HD to get lots of data off, but I cant figure out a way to get in without XP seeing it and throwing up the blue screen o death. I have tried it as a master, slave and even in an external USB hard drive case but all with the same results. I fear that I will have to format it and try one of those programs to get the data back. It is about last resort time. Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks.