Box wont boot or flash

[bends]

got an odd one:
dreambox wont boot.
power on and i get the dream Multimedia logo winking at me.

tried using dreamup(1.3.3.4): it will sometimes load the first part, then stops saying waiting for acknowledgement.
if i use the 2nd stage fix s/w to force the flash button, i select a SSL (tried a few plus full image) but then get "calculating checksum" forever - meanwhile oled is still winking at me.

moving on, i have taken the sim out and put it in another box. seems to boot ok (i didnt let it finish).
I have put the sim from the good box into the bad box with results as above, i.e. no boot.

then i have connected via serial program to the box and watched whats going on.
with either sim in i get

(c) 2007,2008 Dream Multimedia GmbH. All rights reserved.
Dreambox DM800
FIRST STAGE 1.00 {BO2345

constantly repeating.

with sim removed i get:
(c) 2007,2008 Dream Multimedia GmbH. All rights reserved.
Dreambox DM800
FIRST STAGE 1.00 {BE3E3E3E3E3}
Second stage loader wasn't found. Don't panic - it's not a (real) problem.
You don't need to repair your Dreambox. It just means that the flashrom with
the graphical menu was erased. You can restore this with a tool like DreamUp
with serial access.
RESCUE{012

Anyone out there have any idea what's wrong???

[IAmATeaf]

Have you checked that the SIM is in securely and making good contact?

[bends]

Sim is where i have concentrated and seems ok.
I bought this box as faulty so dont know its history.
Anyway, i resoldered the sim pins and lifted the pins up a little. Also removed the optical out connector as it was loose. gave the board a good clean as it seemed to have a residue on it, hopefully not water damage.

I dont know if i have progress or not but i have go something different:

if i use the dreamup version which says V2009 patched by forhike and natas i am able to boot and load their loader. box goes to http mode where i can select an image to flash (says serial mode on the front which is different!)

then i load an image. it flashes through http says it worked, but when i reboot i get the blinking logo again. tried over installing a couple of SSLs (62 69 70) but no change.
I feel i am close but not quite there yet. I am a bit confused on the image v SSL configs - how do i know what to try.

any help getting this box back to life would be greatly appreciated.

cheers