Well, progress is progress. I would try Transcend"s RecoveRx installed on Windows and see if it detects the drive. You don't have anything to lose if it does not detect it. It it does, make sure to have where to store what it recovers since you might have only one shot at it.
I am so confused now as to what I have done and not done, that I am going to throw in the towel and let someone give me an opinion on if the drive can be recovered or not.
This is crazy and probably because I have little interest in playing with computers. My weakness. But I accept it for what it is.
I so greatly appreciate all the suggestions and attempts to help me with this issue. Sincere thanks to all! REALLY!
I will report back with either success or failure at some point. Since it took a couple years to get to this point, not sure how quickly I will report back, but I certainly will...of course, we all know what best intentions are good for...as my mom used to say...best intentions pave the way to hell...LOL