It sounds like you went through quite a challenging experience, Rick! Reinstalling files and applications can be a tedious and time-consuming task, especially when some things can't be fully restored from backups.
It's impressive that you persisted through multiple attempts to get everything up and running again. The use of a German metal polishing paste like "Wenol" to address the disc scratching issue on your application disc was a creative and successful solution.
In the end, it's great to hear that you managed to resolve all the issues and that everything is working fine now. It's true that sometimes, it takes a combination of patience, creativity, and perseverance to overcome technical hurdles.
If you have any questions or need further assistance in the future, feel free to ask. Good luck with your newly restored setup, and may your system run smoothly from now on!