blank registration

Hmmmm This is probably a server problem rather than an Elgg one. I just upgraded to a new server and am planning to move my live site to it. So being a good boy I decided to move my test site to it first. However I didn't get that far yet as I installed a clean new version of 1.5 created my db etc got the elgg index sign in screen but couldn't sign in No problem I thought I'll just register and validate however when I went to the registration page I got the header and the footer but nothing in between It looks right but there is no registration form ????????????????????. any ideas on where my config or db is going wrong????? any help may save me hours of work. thanks