thanks Mark,

hopefully that means it's nothign too serious if the boot log looks normal! too busy today but will have a play around with emplode asap, i've no idea why it won't connect, i've had trouble in the past when first setting up or after a major re-install / format but have always figured it out pretty quick, perhaps it can't find it cos the player is't sending any signal via usb?

cheers,
Hugh