Just learning and have changed a lot of switches.
Somehow I have turned off the "New Register" page.
I did find in
ACP-->System Admin-->Site Preferences-->User Info Settings
I had turned it off.
Now I have turned it back on but when I log out, clear all cookies clear cache and try to register.
Clicking on the "Register Now" or the Lost "Password", I get "You do not have permission in this area", just keeps refreshing every 2 seconds, same message.

I got it fixed.
I did fail to mention that I am also using IPB module.
It was in there.
I had given permission to use IPB Register (which must not work)
Anyway, I switch it over to register via XOOPS and everything seems to work now.