Cannot find files using enclosure; please help

Hi everyone, im new here and in need of help. I recently purchased a new laptop (Windows 8), we put the hard disk from my old slow laptop (win XP) that stopped working into a "sata enclosure". When I attached it, I cant find my personal files. Its like the space is taken up but my important files cant be seen!! All that comes up on the hard disk enclosure drive (F:) is: recovery, swwork,...