I'm somewhat back in business...managed to get 7.6.1 loaded onto an extra CF card I have, was able to perform a clean install of that OS onto a 1400. Last night, I was able to boot the 5300 from disk tools and managed to create a new system file from the 7.5.3 in disk tools. I am hopeful that tonight, I will be able to get the 5300 back to a clean 7.6.1, and then I think I'm gonna leave it the heck alone!

I'm glad this worked, because if that little 17mm thickness drive was dead, it would have been hard to find a replacement. I should check and see if the side holes on a 12.5mm drive match the side holes of a 17mm. The bottom holes are different, but the 5300 drive side-screws into its caddy.

I forgot how relatively screwed up the innards of a 5300 are compared to the 1400...hadn't been in there for a while. Definitely not as nice to work on! Some really nasty ribbon connectors.