Sybersnake: many thanks but I have in fact tried that too and it doesnt work.
I did contact my hosting site to ask why i had an existing php/flash emailing system working fine on the site and suspected that the register_globals were on and not off like it was on my machine. I had developed the emailing php/flash thing a while ago ona nother machine and as this is a new machine i had to install apache and php etc anew and had my suspicions....

Guess what. I was right.

"register_globals are On , many scripts including oscommerce require them to be on, there are many features in php that are more secure set to off, but we have to compromise for usability
"
so, I am happy.
i can set my register_globals to on also on my machine and check out if the thing works now, which I highly suspect
-will.

Please note other developers and fustrated hair yanking gurus, check with your hosting site first to see if they have their settings as mentioned, set to on and then set your own the same.

Mind you its only by using all help given here and (falling on your face a thousand times!) does anyone finally get the right answer. having said that. i hope this is. LOL!

"..and thats the way the cookie crumbles.."
cheers!
Shaf