I'm bricking it...

My external hard drive, with all my data on it, hit the ground a while ago as I tripped over the cable. It now recognises it (or at least that somethings connected), but it wont appear in "my computer" or anything. Any advice? Am I going to need to contact an expensive data recovery service to obtain all my files?

Its making a clicking noise like its trying to read the hard drive, then gives up...

One possible solution (I have only heard about this, never tried it myself). Make sure your hard drive is sealed in plastic bags and stick it in the freezer for 24 hours, this shrinks the read arm away from the platter, when you then reconnect you will have a short amount of time copy your data elsewhere before its knacked again.

Like I say I have never tried it but it may be worth a go.