-the visuals will not work

You must select a screen mode where there are visuals. By default, you are in a text screen mode and the visuals are hidden behind this text screen. Press the "Info" button on the remote until it says "Info:Off". Then you may select a visual and it will work.

-it seems that many of the functions aren't working (shuffle)

Can you be more specific? I can't imagine a situation where shuffle would not work for you. Go to the shuffle menu and what does it say there? Select "Random" from that menu and what does it say on the screen?

there are artists listed with no songs for them

Please be more specific. What screen do you see these artists in? Is it a screen in the Emplode software? Is it a screen on the player? Which screen?

still can't add songs. i am trying to install the latest hijack

Well, that's probably the root of your problem. Don't try to do your initial player loading with beta software that has known bugs. Please click here and follow the instructions for installing software version 1.03. Do all your initial music loading with this official non-beta version.