Thanks for your input and options. Unfortunately, the rural Thai hospital near my house probably isn't much more sterile than my home and regardless the information isn't THAT valuable. For now, the hard drive has been relegated to paperweight status.
I'm hoping next time I head into the city...
I know there are several threads discussing external drops, but they haven't helped me thus far. I dropped a Buffalo 320gb USB external drive while it was operating.
When I reattached the drive it lights up and I can hear and feel the spinning for a moment, but it always goes to the message...