I've got an odd problem. I'm installing 2 x IBM 18Gb hard drives into my RioCar. With the drives in the shock cage but not screwed into the Empeg (just resting on the top of the player, everything works fine. As soon as I put the shock cage in place, I get "No hard drives found. Contact support"

Any ideas what could be causing this?

Dodgy cable?

Dodgy cable sounds odd. Do you really think that could be the cause?

Where can I get a replacement one from?

It's not unusual - and what else is affected by the location of the drives? Check that the connectors are well crimped.

You can get a replacement from support.

Rob

Sorry! Looks like it was user error. I think the cable was a bit loose on the master drive. Seems ok now.

Thanks.

Looks like it was user error.

It's always user error.
-- HAL 9000

Hmm.. Looks like it might be my cable because the problem is intermittent.

How do I get in touch with support? The "support" section of empeg.com just lists files to download.

The support contact information is up at riohome.com, is in the user guide, is printed on the player (at least on empeg models), and is in the FAQ here and at riocar.org.

[email protected] or [email protected] - they're the same.

We did get a batch of dodgy hard drive cables (it's a shame we already stopped using the supplier, otherwise we would stop using them!) and support will be happy to send a replacement to you.

Rob

Thanks Rob.

Email sent.

New cable recieved with thanks. Empeg now works fine.

So far it seems like the problem with my unit was also a dodgy cable. David Moss is sending me a replacement as well. In case I have not said it enough, the empeg team is simply the best.

It's a pleasure getting to deal with people so close to the project and getting support at the most personal level. Next to the other engineers I work side by side with, I couldn't ask for a more communicative and responsive consumer relationship.

Wow. It's no wonder the retail product was halted. Good things and good people always seem to get the axe unfortunately.

Bruno

Well those same good people are behind some other good things that they just can't tell us about yet. What we can say is that it's not an aftermarket car MP3 player, and that's a shame.

I won't even take public guesses as to what it is, just in case I'm right (I have a knack :) But I do hope we get to hear about it officially soon and that it makes a big splash (as well as being a financial success for them).

Bruno

But I do hope we get to hear about it officially soon and that it makes a big splash (as well as being a financial success for them).

[sarcasm]With the incredible marketing skill, customer service, and general competence displayed by Sonic Blue and Digital River over the past 384 days, how could it possibly fail? [/sarcasm]

Don't get me started!

(This somewhat bitter post is in no way meant to reflect badly on the original empeg team in the UK, who by near-unanimous consensus provided us with the best customer service ever experienced from any corporation for any product ever made. Period.)

tanstaafl.