Problem 2 of 2 - variables by reference

Gentlefolk, There is a problem getting referenced variables updated on my system.  But it doesn't apply to all of them.  Win2K SP4, IIS 5.?, PHP v4.3.5, MySQL v3.23.49 . . . does that cover the basics? f_get_profile($uid, $user, $laston, $birth); calling function f_get_profile($uid, &$user, &$laston, &$birth){     handling and updating code here } seems to work, while f_get_prefs($uid, $color, $style, $body, $act); calling function f_get_prefs($uid, &$color, &$style, &$body, &$act){     handling and updating code here } doesn't work at all.  I though perhaps I was using unset() improperly, but that doesn't seem to be the case.  In light of the session problem I've been having (Problem 1 of 2), I suppose it's a PHP.INI problem, but I'm at wit's send trying to ascertain where it might lie.  I'd appreciate any guidance I might get toward a resolution. Make a good day . . . . . barn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Truth is realized in an instant; the Act is practiced step by step. - Zen saying ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~