What would you do if you were me? [ Need your Help / Opinions ] [ Broken +... ]

If you lot, or if anybody here knows about computer stuffs, specially about files and drives. I'd be needing your opinion and maybe your help/suggestion.

Last June, a family member borrowed my External Hard Drive, a 1TB one because he needs to backup his important files for he will be reformatting his computer. So as he was copying the files ( which takes a little time, because they're huge ) - he leaves the computer open letting the things copy or transfer the files from PC to my External Hard Drive.. he went away for a bit and when he came back he saw the computer at, "Not Responding" thingy.. he decided not to touch it and leave it for another time, thinking that it could load up again anytime soon, but another 'later' he comes back and things still at "Not Responding".. he then decided to restart the computer, and when the computer finally re-boots the External Hard Drive works ( meaning the drive is not dead, cause it still lights up and you know the disc or whatever inside it is still spinning ) .. ->

-> When you plug the External Hard Drive, the hard drive works like the way it should "BUT" when you open My Computer you cannot see or access the External Hard Drive, when you open devices and storage.. you can see your external hard drive is there, plugged in the computer but, no way to access the files, I have googled everything i can do, downloaded file recovery things, in order for me to recover my files.. and since June it has been left unused..

What about the files? Can't you just reformat it? etc..?
Well actually i have some important files there, like my GoPro videos from trips and stuff, some 'old' pictures/screenshot of the old games i play ( which can't be reproduced or copied or re-done.. ) maybe if i remember some backups from my phone :/ ,

NOW the external hard drive has been left unused since June, i even barely remember mostly what files are in there.. , YES, i do know there are my GoPro vids, but to the extent i can't remember specific videos, what i did on that video, what happened on that video etc.. all i know is i have GoPro clips in there and forgot what happened on those, i think i also even have some game clips i recorded, which i also even forgot what happened on those, some game screenshots etc.. In short i barely remember most of the files there that, would it still be useful to recover the files if i have forgotten what happened on those clips, what specific photos are there, etc..

TL;DR
My External Hard Drive broke, been unused for like 6 months, I BARELY REMEMBER or FORGOTTEN what "specific" files are on there, that would saving the lost files is still even worth it if you even forgotten about them, and could just permanently erase them since you can't remember them anymore. and move on, so if you were me what would you do?