I FOUND THE PROBLEM!!!
i wanted to upload the two images of the old vs new versions!!!
I didn't notice, but the COMPRESSED/UNCOMPRESSED menu/buttons have changed!
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NEW VERSION:
Point Conversion: COMPRESSED UNCOMPRESSED
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OLD VERSION:
Point Conversion: UNCOMPRESSED COMPRESSED
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I didn't notice that the default Point Conversion has been changed. So everything is cool, I had my passphrase in the old version in Uncompressed mode, and so I now have to Click on Uncompressed to get the same public/private keypair
[thanks to CIYAM for giving a PM hint to what it may have been]
--- one more thing: I wanted to post screengrabs of this, but I couldn't post any images here, help? --
happygeorge is happy?
YES!
I wish I could put a huge grin/happy face pic here!