ok now.
i borrowed a PC - and got the firmware on the MD, using MCT and the latest (20081222) firmware.
all seems nice a good now.
ie. i can scroll through menus etc.. the firmware it up and running (a small victory here!

)
and i even checked, with a quick piezo hook-up, that midi is flowing through the USB to Toontrack or BFD2.
GREAT!
but MCT is still not showing it as an output... i guess MCT is just not working-properly for me.
screw it - i'll wait till a stable release, and just program from the LCD instead

(and update at some point from my friends' PC again)
the LCD backlight is the only thing not working.
contrast is ok - i can adjust it (by UP/DOWN at the Copyright menu).
pin voltages you asked for:
What are voltages between pins 1 and 2 of the LCD?4.98VDC
What is the voltage between pins 1 and 3?1.21VDC (easiest to see)
0.82VDC (harder to see)
And Synthex already asked, what is the voltage between pins 15 and 16?0.00VDC
"...When you connect pin 3 of the LCD to the ground you set LCD contrast to the maximum and black boxes in the top raw should stand out straight away."This works too. So the LCD is not faulty.
I have a 470ohm resistor between pin 15 and 16 directly on the LCD.
edit:
without any resistor (or with a 47ohm) between pin15 & 16 on the LCD connectors, i get the same results.