I dont think my problem is anything to do with incorrect installation, I think its php incompatabiltys or a problem with the php5 patch for zencart.
I have just erased all database entries and done a complete fresh install.
steps taken:
1)unzip zencart 1.3.8a as dowloaded, and rename directory zencart in htdocs,
2) change directory to zencart doc root
3)unzip zc138a-php53patch.zip
4)create new sql user and database
5)install zencart using firefox(bon echo) browser in the zc_install directory
6)unzip module_manager.zip in zencart directory
7) browse admin/module_manager.php to install module manager (patches shown successful)
8)unzip ssu 3.7.5.zip in zencart directory
9)edit includes/classes/ssu/cores/parser.php line 17 (remove one occurence of protected)
10)browse /admin/ssu.php and configure ssu
browse the shop and find that the paths are not working correctly as i stated in my previous post.....
step 9 is required as the version of php i am using throws a fatal error when multiple access type modifiers are used???????
the php5.3 patch makes some changes to prevent errors that seem to crash the system on the following files:
admin/includes/application_top.php <line 22> (set_magic_quotes_runtime() deprecated)
includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php <line 177> (ereg() deprecated)
includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php <line 412> (ereg() deprecated)
admin/includes/functions/general.php <line 3001> (cannot redeclare date_diff()) Fatale error
I think this maybe bleeding edge problem as it is running on the latest linux xampp 1.7.3a build on a fresh dsl-4.4.10 linux harddisk install running in a vmware image.
Installing an older version of ssu on the same environment works better than the 3.7.5 version but still has similar problems.
I am guessing its a problem with php array indexing or splitting the url strings into arrays, off by one?
If anyone wants a copy of the vmware image to test themselves let me know and i can make it available (100Mb download)
I think I am going to leave this now, unless anyone has some simple suggestion (I have never programmed in php so im not going to dig any deeper)