Hmmm... perhaps try these things... (these are stabs in the dark, so forgive me...)
1) Leave the unit powered up, but in "Standby" mode when you apply the upgrade. I don't have to remove and reapply power when I do an upgrade.
2) Make sure you've got the latest (beta 10) Emplode and Empeg Upgrade Tool before trying to apply the upgrade.
3) Make sure the Upgrade file is undamaged: Re-download the upgrade file using GetRight. (Mike... I liked it once upon a time, when you used to Zip the upgrade files, that way I knew for sure the files were valid when they unzipped successfully)
4) Try the 9C+ upgrade once more and see if that works.
5) If your COM port for the upgrade shares an IRQ with your modem, make sure you're offline before trying to run the upgrade.
Let us know how it goes.
Tony FabrisEmpeg #144