session serialize format is different to serialize-function format!?

Why is the serialized data that are automatically written in the session file different to what the serialize function returns for "serialize($_SESSION)" ? i tried to write a session handler, since in php4.1.2 on win using register_globals=Off the session doesnt work. And I wanted to write "serialize($_SESSION)" in the session file (instead of the $sess_data passed to the write-function), but since the read-function simply returns this string without serializing it i have no chance of serializing the data using my own format, or the format returned by "serialize($_SESSION)" . Is this intended? -- Wolfram ... translating template engine .... http://sf.net/projects/simpletpl ... authentication system .... http://sf.net/projects/auth