My HD: Western Digital 160GB, 7200 rpm, connected via firewire. Has only 1 partition that was NTFS, had over 100GB of my files/data on there (family pictures and videos).
Description of problem: The external HD was working just fine (internal HD using a enclosure). I turned it off/on frequently to save pics from my digital camara and upload them to internet to share with relatives) but I notice that recently there was issues getting the HD to start and be recognized by windows. A couple of on/off will make it work. Then during the past weekend, I decided that before it gets worse to put the HD inside my machi. This was a IDE HD and all no IDE connectors were available so I decided to get a IDE to Sata converter. I installed the HD and it took a long time before windows recognized it, after that it asked to format it. It was then when I decided to take if off the machine.
The drive letter showed up in "my computer", but won't let me in and wants me to format it (it also shows up in device manager as healthy/active - it is the F drive). I deciided to replaced my IDE dvd burner for a Sata one in order to free up a IDE connector. I'd like to keep those files if possible.
Thank in advance for your time and any help you can offer.
update: I added some images
