Thanks muchly.
I am a bit of a Microphobe so I'll probably steer clear of the MS offering (which probably wouldn't work anyway - and even MS give it only a limited chance of qualified success) .....and go for the ONTRACK Easy Recovery FileRepair 6 option at US$399.
http://www.ontrack.com/easyrecovery/...filerepair.asp
The ONTRACK stuff normally works. After that, I think I need to definitely bite the bullet and go for FORKEEPS
www.fkeeps.com (now in version 4.63)
I had always intended to - but somehow never got around to it. Ain't it always the way.