Posted on December 08, 2016 at 15:57This is a closing followup to this problem.
Last month, a virus changed the firmware inside my disk drive, changing the geometry from 500GB to 1.2MB and left behind a bootable version of FreeDOS. So my system was obliterated.
I handed the disk over to a security firm for investigation and it is now with a government security agency.
I bought a new disk and did a complete re-install of everything and the reported problem with ST-Link no longer exists.
In addition, STMicroelectronics has listened and made a dramatically impressive improvement to the community forum service that can only get better as time goes on.
Most excellent change folks and shows that your corporation is committed to the customer and continued use of your products.