problem with my user control. only works in user control project

I have a user control (activex control) that i developed a few years ago.
i recently moved to another computer.
i can open the user control project group and the control works fine in my test app.

when i open a new exe project and add my control to a form the control does nothing.
i can set the properties during design time in the new project.

the control is a strip chart graph that should show grid lines and data scrolling but
nothing happens at all.

why would it work in the user control project and not in a separate application?

and I have recompiled the ocx to make sure it's up to date.

thanks.
Scott.