[mix4fix]

I have an old hard drive that shows content in Properties but when you explore it there are no files.

How do you rescue the data on the drive?

[Johnny2Bad]

The question is simple, the answer(s) complex.

First of all, you need to determine if there is anything wrong physically with the drive. If you can mount it and it seems to be working, that is a good start.

Next you need to employ a data recovery software to read the files that are on the disk but cannot be read for whatever reason. I would suggest downloading a Linux Live CD and loading it onto a thumb drive, and then booting from that drive. There are a number of distros that are oriented to data recovery, a little Googling should steer you to an appropriate one. I'd suggest one but Linux changes often (updates to the kernel, or OS) so a search of recent offerings probably would be better for you.

You want to use a tool that mounts the drive in Read-Only mode, so that no new data is written to the disk, as this will often overwrite existing data and make it un-recoverable. This is one of the reasons why I don't recommend a Windows recovery tool, as WindowsOS will often overwrite drives with data as soon as they are mounted.

Generally speaking if no new data has been written to the drive, and the drive itself is not failing or failed, files are recoverable. Good luck.

[WGH]

If your data is important then Google "data recovery" and have a professional do the job.
Google "data recovery software" for a DIY approach. I have never needed a recovery program so unfortunately I don't have any recommendations.
Make sure the drive spins up before spending money, if it's not spinning then the disks have to be transplanted into another body that uses the same controller.

[mix4fix]

It's a plain hard drive with just stuff on it (videos, pictures, music). There is no operating system to worry about.

[Phil A]

I've used EaseUS to recover files for people.  Sometimes one can right click with the mouse on the drive and may be able to select fix disc errors.

[srb]

I have an old hard drive that shows content in Properties but when you explore it there are no files.

Perhaps too simplistic a scenario, but I have seen drives either that either from user error or a virus have had all files tagged as hidden.

Just to be sure, check that Windows Explorer has "Show hidden files, folders and drives" selected and "Hide protected operating system files" unchecked.

[Johnny2Bad]

It's a plain hard drive with just stuff on it (videos, pictures, music). There is no operating system to worry about.

What is on the drive is irrelevant; it's the OS you use to mount the drive and run recovery software that matters.

I won't argue that a Professional can do a good job, but when it comes to data recovery they run from a decent price to heart-attack expensive. As someone who has done many a drive recovery over the years*, it can be time consuming, and if you're being billed by the hour, look out. Insist on a fixed fee. As your drive is still functional, you won't have to deal with a specialized data recovery firm, but if that were the case (clean room, dismantling the drive and reading the bare platters) it's $thousands.

* The last one I did, which was on a 250GB 2.5" SATA drive with Windows10 installed, that had failed, took multiple tools before I finally resorted to a byte-by-byte recovery, which took three weeks (although it didn't require constant monitoring, just tied up a machine for that length of time). He wanted his music files back, and I recovered 10,000 mp3s, mp4s, and WAV files. The reason you don't do that right off the hop is when a drive has failed, it only deteriorates with use, and byte-by-byte is very taxing. I charged him $60.

[mix4fix]

I used the right recovery tool. It did a deep scan and is getting everything.