For the first time in nearly 7 years I am adding music to my empeg. I use the empeg just about daily, but since there hasn't been a lot of really good music added to the world since 1791, adding more music hasn't been a high priority with me.

I was able to find and install the emplode 2.0 final (that was easy, I have my computer very well organized.) I even resolved the dreaded "player not found" problem, and installed about 200 hours of music audio books to keep my slightly autistic brother in law entertained over a 6,000 km trip beginning this weekend. Overkill, I know, the total in-car time will be less than 70 hours. It took me a while to get the hang of the program after all these years, but I managed.

What takes most of the time seems to be the "Checking Media" stage of the upload/synchronization. Can this step be skipped, and if it can is it a good idea to do so?

tanstaafl.

No and also no.

If it is doing it repeatedly, then you'll really want to connect over serial (or telnet) and do a manual fsck to cure the issue.

Apparently Hijack lets you disable it. The FAQ has details, plus a link to the manual steps: http://www.riocar.org/FAQ/8/245.html#245

Wow! And it is so nice to have the FAQ functioning!