Thanks.
If I start with Hostmaster's July 12 data or if I start with a completely fresh install, I wind up on a block chain that has ~204k blocks. That makes me wonder two things. 1) Is Mintpal's fork the "correct" fork? Do we know if anyone but them is on it? 2) Would a checkpoint at ~209k blocks help me? I don't understand the checkpoints but if my wallet can't see past 204k blocks, I don't see how a checkpoint 5k blocks later would help.
since mintpal is the major exchange that holds ecc coins and everyone on here is complaining about having withdrawls issues from them. i am assuming we all want to use their chain. there have been so many forks that i think it would be most reasonable to designate the one with the current biggest exchange as the correct one so everyone can get thier coins from them. i will compile a wallet with my own added checkpoints and see if from a fresh install to see if it fixes the fork problem.
EDIT: the way the checkpoints work is the chain will use the checkpoints to sync the right chain. if it goes down a chain (from a fork) and cant find a checkpoint listed. it will go back and try the other chain until everything is on the right chain. if u need me to explain more i can