"Are the files shown as MS-Ramdrive on the floppy?" They are from the floppy put into ram.

I do think your only option is to use a linux based OS. Linux does not auto mount any hdd's so will not get lost doing so. Using "testdisk" does not need the hdd mounted so no problem there. Remember my linux knowledge is minimal.

So the main question is just which linux rescue cd will work with the memory you have. Remember they are ISO files and must be burned to cd correctly and not as data.

1) (Parted Magic loads completely to system memory and requires at least 300MB of RAM to operate) http://partedmagic.com/wiki/PartedMagic.php So I think it is out.

2) SystemRescueCd-x86-1.1.0 could not find memory required.
http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

The hdd could also just be bad, you may want to first go to hdd web site and find their test utility program.
http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...JJCO&x=11&y=16

I downloaded the Western Digital software and ran a test on the hard drive.
I immediately got an error message "Please contact technical support Drive 0@port 0x01f0 reported a smart error". The corresponding table displayed showed two attributes below threshold. The attributes were "Re-allocated sector count" and "Multi zone error rate". I am hollowing "Calf Rope" which in the south means that I have been beaten and I am giving up.
I can not express my appreciation for all of the time and effort that you have put in trying to help me solve this problem. I feel guilty about giving up.

Thanks again for your help.

David

Not sure just what the errors mean. Before giving up would try a new IDE cable and even try a linux recovery cd. A bad IDE cable can create all types of problems.