LOL NEVERMIND!!
Error on my part (two actually).
I forgot ExtractFilePath function also tacks on the backslash character, i.e the ' ' char.
Sooo the code for the string was translating to C:…some folder…\settings.ini
instead of C:Some foldersettings.ini
The double backslash was screwing it up.
plus I realized I didn't release the IniFile object with 'Free'
Although that doesn't affect the reading, just memory issue.
problem solved.
< homer simpson says...> DOH !!!