Just an update, and a thanks for your reply! I appreciate it.

What a pain that whole thing has been!! I tried and tried and tried and couldnt get past that error, two days wasted.

So I reinstalled everything all over again after backing up my the database, I transferred all the database files over and BAM once again same problem.

So I restored my backup of the new install and just transferred products and their attributes. Reenabled SSL and WOOHOOO its working.

Therefore all I can figure out is it must have been a setting I changed.. and I cant figure out where I changed it. But whichever it was, it solved my problem and I'm a very happy camper now.

I'm glad it wasnt the server because we have our own dedicated server which is very quick and only hosts our sites. No system admin to go complaining too!

Thanks again,
Matt