My laptop wont recognize my western digital elite 500g hard drive

Ok got this a month ago and I backed up all my pics, music and docs; and all was well but the only thing Ive done that might be wrong is i unplugged my passport without "Safely removing" it. Now I cant seem to get into my passport. Before when I first started using the passport my computer would recognize and identify my passport elite with a big "W' now it just show that something is plugged into "drive F". Ive tried reinstalling the drivers from Western Digital but to know avail. Also my laptop is asking if i want to reformat the F drive??? Does this mean that all my info is GONE/?? I dont want to reformat it until i exhaust all avenues. Please help, what do you think I could do????
thanks people