NIGHTMARE night! - Have not played for a while. Any way, I only got a straight line signal when trying to calibrate on setup when trying to play through vinyl (abs). Checked all cables etc. All fine. It was not having it at all. Other DJ was playing 'regular' vinyl through my box on 'phono' setting and worked fine.
Switched to CD's.(First time I have used them) and the circles on the setup were very very big. Out of the box big. It was working for about twenty minutes in manuel modethen stopped suddenly. When I tried to select a file SL would run through every track in my crate until the end then stop. I eventually could only play and had to switch to int. mode on both decks. Horrible night.!!!!

This is what happened.
The turntable or needle you were using was not sending a both Left and Right signal. ScratchLIVE needs both signals and regular vinyl does not (this is why your friend played regular vinyl fine).

When you connected the CDJs - you did not Select Line under the hardware tab so the calibration was off.

Next - you allowed for the track 1 on the CDJ to end and switch to track 2 - which is used to scroll thru your songs.

Ok - So basically there decks were not in good condition as I thought. Would it make much difference if I take my own needles ? + Is it worth updating my SL to a more recent version? Thanks. B

Yes its always better to update and stay on the current versions. Also a great idea to carry extra needles - could have been the needles causing issues and not the decks.