Arlen Holder wrote:


It just is too hit-or-miss to "repair" a corrupted drive, whereas, to just
set up a new drive is more deterministic.

First I'll back up the data off the old drive by putting it in my second
desktop, which is what I have to do today.

Thanks for all your purposefully helpful advice; I really do appreciate
your suggestions.

Start with the basics.

From Linux (LiveCD will do)

disktype
sudo apt install disktype # may require universe or multiverse to be turned on

sudo disktype /dev/sda

(As an example of when a distro doesn't turn on everything properly...
This is how you install synaptic on Ubuntu, when they don't want you
to have synaptic and make a nuisance of themselves.)

sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install synaptic
sudo synaptic

Disktype will "sniff" the MBR, then enumerate
the partitions and the detected types.

I don't think the drive is corrupted so much, that
this test won't work.

If the drive cannot be detected at BIOS level, and
all the cables are plugged in, *that's* a duff drive.

Paul