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after backing up my mainfile.php i completely wiped my XOOPS instalation directory and freshly unpacked the default XOOPS tarball into my html directory, deleted the install directory, set all of my permissions properly, double checked everything, put my original mainfile.php back where it belongs (overwriting the one that came with the default install), logged in and it still has the darn looping problem...
I believe that this confirms that it is not a files issue, and is in fact a database issue (or that there is in fact a big bug in the release).
also, this particular install (database, files, etc.) is pretty stock... i haven't even configured any modules on it. just system. and that was just enough to get through the preferences.
anybody have any further information, please post away!
--Cpgeek