First time user for Backups-My Passport Essential

I think I am in a similar situation.  Our old computer crashed but we have the WD drive.  Our new system has Windows 7.  I can connect the WD but when it connects itself it skips steps like the WD Sysexe (something like that) even though it says it has installed ok.  When I find my file folders,almost all of them are empty.  We had hundreds of photos and our tax info for 5 years on there!!!  Please HELP!!!