Hi all, the LEDS no longer go solid and Mavlink no longer works. so close to maiden flight arrgh.

Mavlink worked several times previously but now gives the "cannot connect" popup after 30 secs.
Tried many things (see further below).
No solid a-c lights Hence I cannot launch. Though Mediatek light solid after 2 mins.
I was able to do all of the setup procedure (in google code AC2 manual as of Dec 20, 2011)
During this setup and testing the copter did as expected (i.e. it responded as AC2 setup manual said) for raido and esc calibration and levelling test.

I think I got solid a and c lights while testing
I definitely could communicate with the Mavlink in early stages.
Went out to do maiden flight
I think I got solid a and c lights while waiting for wind to drop
Wind dropped and I repowered copter and did not get solid lights nor levelling pre-flight test response (tried 3 times and left the field)
went back to bench and did not get Mavlink nor solid a and c leds.
Then tried steps below, suggested from forum threads.
(Copter never got to fly but may have run props about 5-10 mins in total. No part particularly hot after any test nor set to fly try.)
re-loaded AC2 code and still no Mavlink nor solid a-c leds.
Suggestions please.

Tried troubleshooting guide but not successful:

resetting apm red board
restarting PC
restarting APM red board and Mission Planner with both switch settings (CLI/fly)
retried Mission Planner with GPS disconnected

Notes:
Mediatek gps blinks for quite some time but finally (~2 mins) goes solid
abc leds continue to do running light thing at about 1Hz or slightly faster
when trying to connect with Mavlink I get comms led blink occasionally but blinks alot just when error message shows.
I could not get any response from APM/CLI when I go to Terminal tab and hit return 3 times (tried twice, and still no message)
checked RTS setting

setup:
AC2.1 (late dec 2011)
Windows XP sp3
Mission Planner - 1.1.13 (downloaded Dec 2011)
APM1 red board (and ran well for several flights with Arduplane code)
Mediate gps
magnetometer installed

thanks for any help you can give!

Brett, Australia