thanks for the feedback. I believe that I now have the correct password but when I try to restore the wallet.dat at blockchain.info using an empty blockchain.info wallet's restore backup option I get an
error message stating "warning! data may have changed but cannot sync as you have unsaved keys." Is there another way to restore an old wallet.dat , unsaved keys? if you have any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated. The size of the wallet.dat in question is 96kb and I am fairly certain that the btc are there. Would downloading the whole blockchain and utilizing bitcoin core bring better results? I was going to try that next but the size of the thing turned me sour. I gave up for a while and now I am at it again. If I find out that I have been trying to restore a wallet.dat with no balance I will not only be a bitcoin maniac, I will be a bitcoin fool. any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.