[editor-surveyor]

>> “but if the drive electronics fail to respond I will repeat my previous suggestion — before doing anything else get the data off the hard drive” <<

This is a case where if A is true, B is impossible.

[ken in texas]

Perhaps. I don't know if the problem is electronic, physical, or environmental. If the drive is truly failing and has been made worse by attempts to fix the software all bets are off.

Neither you nor I can see what's happening.