shell_exec question

Greetings learned PHP(eople); I`m using a shell_exec to get a list of files from a specified directory. When I run it locally on my machine i works. When I run it on the other machine I get ===== Warning: shell_exec() [function.shell-exec]: Cannot execute using backquotes in Safe Mode in /var/www/html/search.php on line 9 ===== In /etc/php.ini Safe Mode is off....I read some postings in the archives and on the advice given checked that the owner of the script has the relevant permissions on the directory/files trying to be accessed, and they are the same i.e. root Any ideas ? -- Chris Blake Support Consultant Office : (011) 782-0840 Fax : (011) 782-0841 Mobile : 083 985 0379 Website: http://www.pbpc.co.za What does education often do? It makes a straight cut ditch of a free meandering brook. -- Henry David Thoreau 13:10:21 up 21 days, 4:40, 3 users, load average: 0.48, 0.33, 0.28