Hi Mark,
A colleague of mine, now resident in California has reported similar intermittent [mostly now it won't even boot] hard disk not found problems with his empeg.

I said I'd find out who can take a look at it for him.
I don't think he'll have any problem with shelling out up to $100US to get his empeg fixed.

Can you confirm that:
(a) you are able to look at it sometime if he sends it to you
(b) what the [postal] address he should use to send it to you,
and
(c) whats the best way for him to pay you?

I realise the summers coming up your way, so it may take some time to get fixed [possibly until late autumn if the weathers good right?]. But I guess he can wait as its not as is the empeg is working now and I think he has it in the closet somewhere.

If you can reply here or PM me and I'll pass the details on to him and he can email you direct once he's sent it and can sort out all the other details.

I suspect his unit either has either badly crimped IDE cable or IDE header on main board is not soldered properly.

Thanks