For straight file recovery (on a Windows XP Professional O/S) I have used the (non-free) File Scavenger. You can recovere files from a 'Defunct' drive and save to a DIFFERENT drive. I was able to recover 60 Gig of mp3's and jpg's using it. It is NOT a quick process.
Just for what the above is worth. Don't thing that is what you were looking for.