I'd hook it up to a WORKING system, mount on /mnt or wherever you prefer.

Then try and copy what you can.  Disk-repair tools might help.

Don't try and install anything over it-- it can't improve anything to try and 
write on a dying disc.

Think happy!  My mom's drive (old WD 20G) died, completely and without any 
warning.  The logic's shot: it thinks it's the 10G model of the same series.