Thank you for updating you post Retokener.
I'm still getting to grips with DMDEs tricky user interface but I've been able to successfully recover some test files so far.
I'll give Minitool Partition Wizard shortly to see if I recover the partition structure. The drive only has a single partition so it should hopefully be a straight forward task.
In DMDE, once it has analyzed the device/image, you are given the choice to choose among several "found" volumes.
(or get to it from Drive->Partitions)
If the disk didn't contain any "plain" disk image, you are proposed only one or maybe two possible volumes.
There will be green letters beside the drive and the volume.
These are very relevant as they may give a hint on where the issue lies.
A "good" device will have a T near the drive
A "good" volume will have EBCF.
Their meaning is explained here:
https://dmde.com/man...partitions.html
and of course - even if is an "advanced" topic - you can normally fix the issues from within DMDE, including (highly advised) save/backup the current partitioning scheme before making changes.
Wonko