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.