This is doing my head in, I am using php 5.1.4, Appache Server 2.2.3 on windows xp(sp2), I am just trying to get a simple session going, I have no complicated stuff, definately no spaces before my <?php declare, definately no spaces after ?> my snytax is as follows, when I run this I cannot see a value for the variable, my session directory produces a file containing "views|i:1;". <?php session_start(); $_SESSION['views'] = 1; echo "Pageviews = ". $_SESSION['views']; ?> Im pretty sure my php.ini settings are correct as I have reinstalled, followed all the tutes ----------------------- session settings --------------------------------------- session.auto_start - off session.use_trans_sid - 0 session.use_only_cookies - off session.use_cookies - on