Thank you Tony - it pointed me in the right direction.

The problem was not long comment fields but was long tune names. Specifically it is the Ministry of Sound compilation CDs which combine artist, tune name and mix name to create a very long tune name.

Judicious pruning of the names (which could not display on the front panel of the empeg anyway) resolved the problem.

I then went on a hunting spree and found another instance of the problem on another compilation CD which I had previously not noticed.

Thanks for your help on this - I really was barking up the wrong tree, however I do have the developer image now and can start to do some interesting things. I'd be keen to get it to play an MP3 of my name, address and phone number and perhaps an offer of a reward when it boots to make it 'too hot to handle' if stolen. I'd better go and see if it has been done before :-)

Thanks again

Roderick