thanks, i did try to install the Edge version in a www.mydomain.com/folder but obviously the PHP version wouldn't allow it to work properly. I'll ask hostgator if I can run a different php version in a sub-domain, never thought of that.
re: shipping module, i completely forgot to answer. Currently I just have the "store pick up" installed, I tried to install the "oscom-upsxml-version-1-5-for-oscommerce-2-3-x-z6l1O-DdJp7" but i think i screwed it up. Either way, shipping will be USPS only.