Does anyone has some feedback on my synchronizing problems described below?

Since a few weeks I do have problems during synchronizing. The 'synchronizing' symbol on the player halts for a few seconds, the HD seems to ' tick', and when monitoring the COM port, I get the message
hda: irq timeout: status=0xd0
ide0: reset: success
At the same moment the synchronizing symbol on the player is moving again.

FAQ checked, HD tested in laptop (reformat, install Suse Linux-->OK), reformatted drive (empeg drive builder), reassembled the player, and attempt to reinstall music. Same errrors. Discussed with David, probably bad drive cable? Replacement cable installed.

First batch upload (player still open) went 100% ok. Player lid closed again, start uploading the rest of the batch. Problem present again.Top lid off again, 100% ok upload etc.

Conclusion: it seems that when I do not cover the player with the metal cover, uploads are OK, when closed, the errors return. I checked whether or not the top lid presses the cable. Seems not the case. And covering the lid with something else has no negative effect . Until.... I cover it with something else metal like , leading to suspect something electrical?

When checking the outside of the player, it seems that it is not 0 volt, the wall plug however seems to be standard 0 volt.

Any suggestions?

Data:
Mk2a, replaced drive cable, HD 40Gb toshiba
power adapters tested: original empeg + IBM laptop adapter
Software 2b11, hijack 278

NB: I checked my backup unit: same voltage results, however no (not yet?) upload problems. This system is original, unmodified 10Gb