Hi,
I did a fresh install of zen cart, but this time installed the demo products too, which I didn't do before. The problem actually still exists, the only difference seems to be that the demo products do show in the attributes controller lists, but new products didn't show when I tried adding them and still doesn't add option name of any option type 'text' attributes.
I might have found a way of working around the problem but only if I rename the categories and use the demo products and 'text' attributes already there. I only have about 15 products to add to the cart, so it might work for me. I found that in the database, in products_options_values_to_products_options, all the option type 'text' attributes are listed with the products_options_values_id of '0', instead of an id number as the rest have, I found that if I changed the '0' to say '31', I could actually add the text attribute to the product, although the system gave it the option name of 'silver' after I renumbered it and was adding it to the option values list, so there must be a number associated with the attribute option name silver somewhere on the system, but it did show up on the product as a text box and the text entered in the box was taken through to the customers account and delivered to the admin email.
I would still like to get it working right if possible, so if anyone knows of anything else I could try, I'd appreciate any suggestions still. I don't think its a server issue because I had access to the php.ini, and changed the settings to suit the Zen Cart installation.