When I converted the script "Ansi->OEM" using the editpad text editor, then saved and reran, it worked.

I had resolved a similar problem at The problem was utf-8 versus windows ansi using this technique several months ago, and unfortunately clean forgotten about it. (Long stressy day yesterday.)

However, although this worked, I think it would be better/more permanent/more portable to be using perl's encoding powers, and I really appreciate all the answers and will be studying them carefully.