External Hard Drive showing up but won't open

I was hoping there would be more current drivers than what it has :

https://www.msi.com/Laptop/GE76-Raider-11UX/support?sub_product=GE76-Raider-11UG#driver

Instead of going through Windows can try booting with one of these (1st or Linux one) and see if can acess and move your stuff faster :

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/bootable-windows-pe-based-recovery-discs/

Thanks for the ideas, looks like I'm going to need another external hard drive to complete the recovery (though, this whole experience has made me realize I needed another one anyway). I'll go pick one up later today and begin trying a recovery o on the drive, will update as I make some progress.

Not sure if it's relevant, but when I shut down the computer last night, it took an hour to complete. The problematic external hard drive was still plugged in and I'm sure that was the reason (attempts to eject the hard drive through the option on the computer were unsuccessful)

Thanks for letting us know.

Not unusual when it will not eject as it was using files when refuses.    Bigger they are the more they refuse.  If install to it then do not even bother with the icon as it wall always be using files.

Microsoft says since Mid build of Win10 you can just pull the USB out with no need to use the icon.  Risk lose or corrupted files though.

Picked up a new external hard drive and will try salvaging what's salvageable on the failing drive tomorrow (won't have time today). I had a question about the failing drive though - once this process is completed, can that drive be wiped and used again? Or is it just scrap at this point?

As time go on, this drive will fail more and more.  It could be used as is, untouched as a desperate last resort backup.  Do not power it unless you really need it.  Personally, I would recycle it and rely on better shaped backups.