Door not opening/unlatching from outside; failed door latching/locking mechanism?

[austinporsche]

OK, here's the situation:

"Unlocked" the doors using the remote.

I "hear" the latches unlock.

Passenger door opens using the outside handle.

Driver door does not open using the outside handle, though the window lowers a little when the handle is pulled (so the door sensor works?)

When I then insert key into the door lock and turn and hold it in the unlock position, the window rolls down and I can then open the door using the inside handle.

Anyone else ever seen this type of failure?

Is the mechanical linkage/cable from the outside door handle to the door latching/locking mechanism broken? (is there such a cable or is it a lever of some kind?)

Something else?

Any help would be most appreciated.

BTW, as this is the second issue I've had since getting the 986 (the first was the clock led backlight burning out, super easy fix, got lots of help from this forum), it's probably time to download a service manual pdf.

Anyone know where I can find one online?

Oh, and it's a 2000 Boxster, November 2000 build, with a dual row IMS (first thing I replaced, the late-in-year build proves that the VIN is meaningless in predicting whether a 2000 model year engine has a dual or single row IMS).