You wrote:
Mmm, could be this (from the 4.1.12 changelog)
Previously in MySQL 4.1, an Illegal mix of collations error occurred when mixing strings from same character set when one had a non-binary collation and the other a binary collation. Now the binary collation takes precedence, so that both strings are treated as having the binary collation. This restores compatibility with MySQL 4.0 behavior.
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I don't think so, I haven't mixed it, all is standartized and of the same character. What to change or what to do with, those were the questions we miss the answers...