How to get files out of a HDD with virus

My laptop doesn’t boot up because of virus in the HDD,I put the HDD in a HDD kit enclosure and plugged via USB to a desktop but it didn’t open,I’m thinking of using this HDD as a slave with a cable adapter,do you think I can open the HDD doing this way even with the HDD having virus or I am wasting my time and have to format my HDD and lose my files,please give me your best advice.