1)Indeed i was using beta3. I've upgraded to beta7 now, same results

2) it never gets to the point of asking me to apply power

3)The upgrade file passes the integrity check of the uploader. I don't
use GetRight but i've downloaded another copy with wget and it's
identical, and gives identical faliure results

4) I was using some serial cable i had used on the Mk1. Just tried the
cable that came with the Mk2 (looks identical on the outside) same
result. I'm pretty sure it is some problem with serial communication
though, i think i had this problem on my Mk1 when putting v2b3 on it and
i resorted to loading windows under vmware and using emplode to do the
upgrade, so it wasn't the serial cable or the com port.

Arggg and now the BBS has crashed again, or at least my route to it has
disappered again... yay, 2 hours later its back...