diff --git a/mod/wiki/ewiki/fragments/nuke_mod_wiki_index b/mod/wiki/ewiki/fragments/nuke_mod_wiki_index
index ab247ab931d..56ffa243976 100644
--- a/mod/wiki/ewiki/fragments/nuke_mod_wiki_index
+++ b/mod/wiki/ewiki/fragments/nuke_mod_wiki_index
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 
 #-- stupid legacy code
-if (!preg_match("/modules.php/i", $PHP_SELF)) {
+if (!eregi("modules.php", $PHP_SELF)) {
     die ("You can't access this file directly...");
 }
 
diff --git a/mod/wiki/lib.php b/mod/wiki/lib.php
index 77e6f82818c..4b340637e75 100644
--- a/mod/wiki/lib.php
+++ b/mod/wiki/lib.php
@@ -1569,11 +1569,11 @@ function wiki_admin_checklinks($pagetocheck) {
      }
 
      /// Remove old Notices
-     $content = preg_replace('/ µµ__~\['.get_string("offline","wiki").'\]__µµ /i','', $content);
+     $content = eregi_replace(' µµ__~\['.get_string("offline","wiki").'\]__µµ ','', $content);
 
      #-- replace dead links
      foreach ($badlinks as $href) {
-        $content = preg_replace("/\377^(.*)($href)\377m", '$1 µµ__~['.get_string("offline","wiki").']__µµ $2/', $content);
+        $content = preg_replace("\377^(.*)($href)\377m", '$1 µµ__~['.get_string("offline","wiki").']__µµ $2', $content);
      }
 
      #-- compare against db content
diff --git a/pix/smartpix.php b/pix/smartpix.php
index 3a7b1a2e815..7deb186dcdd 100644
--- a/pix/smartpix.php
+++ b/pix/smartpix.php
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ function makesafe($param) {
     $param = str_replace('\\\'', '\'', $param);
     $param = str_replace('\\"', '"', $param);
     $param = str_replace('\\', '/', $param);
-    $param = preg_replace('/[[:cntrl:]]|[<>"`\|\':]/', '', $param);
-    $param = preg_replace('/\.\.+/', '', $param);
-    $param = preg_replace('#//+#', '/', $param);
-    return preg_replace('#/(\./)+#', '/', $param);
+    $param = ereg_replace('[[:cntrl:]]|[<>"`\|\':]', '', $param);
+    $param = ereg_replace('\.\.+', '', $param);
+    $param = ereg_replace('//+', '/', $param);
+    return ereg_replace('/(\./)+', '/', $param);
 }
 
 // Nicked from weblib
diff --git a/question/format.php b/question/format.php
index 70b1cda21c5..5b3bc959da7 100644
--- a/question/format.php
+++ b/question/format.php
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ class qformat_default {
             $filearray = file($filename);
 
             /// Check for Macintosh OS line returns (ie file on one line), and fix
-            if (preg_match("/\r/", $filearray[0]) AND !preg_match("/\n/", $filearray[0])) {
+            if (ereg("\r", $filearray[0]) AND !ereg("\n", $filearray[0])) {
                 return explode("\r", $filearray[0]);
             } else {
                 return $filearray;
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ class qformat_default {
         fclose( $fh );
 
         // return the (possibly) new filename
-        $newfile = preg_replace("#{$CFG->dataroot}/{$this->course->id}/#", '',$newfullpath);
+        $newfile = ereg_replace("{$CFG->dataroot}/{$this->course->id}/", '',$newfullpath);
         return $newfile;
     }
 
diff --git a/question/format/gift/format.php b/question/format/gift/format.php
index a32749a0679..ce7a9a412a4 100755
--- a/question/format/gift/format.php
+++ b/question/format/gift/format.php
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class qformat_gift extends qformat_default {
         $question = $this->defaultquestion();
         $comment = NULL;
         // define replaced by simple assignment, stop redefine notices
-        $gift_answerweight_regex = "/^%\-*([0-9]{1,2})\.?([0-9]*)%/";
+        $gift_answerweight_regex = "^%\-*([0-9]{1,2})\.?([0-9]*)%";        
 
         // REMOVED COMMENTED LINES and IMPLODE
         foreach ($lines as $key => $line) {
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ class qformat_gift extends qformat_default {
         $text = $this->escapedchar_pre($text);
 
         // Look for category modifier
-        if (preg_match( '/^\$CATEGORY:/', $text)) {
+        if (ereg( '^\$CATEGORY:', $text)) {
             // $newcategory = $matches[1];
             $newcategory = trim(substr( $text, 10 ));
 
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ class qformat_gift extends qformat_default {
                         $answer_weight = 1;
                         $answer = substr($answer, 1);
     
-                    } elseif (preg_match($gift_answerweight_regex, $answer)) {    // check for properly formatted answer weight
+                    } elseif (ereg($gift_answerweight_regex, $answer)) {    // check for properly formatted answer weight
                         $answer_weight = $this->answerweightparser($answer);
                     
                     } else {     //default, i.e., wrong anwer
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ class qformat_gift extends qformat_default {
                     $answer = trim($answer);
 
                     // Answer Weight
-                    if (preg_match($gift_answerweight_regex, $answer)) {    // check for properly formatted answer weight
+                    if (ereg($gift_answerweight_regex, $answer)) {    // check for properly formatted answer weight
                         $answer_weight = $this->answerweightparser($answer);
                     } else {     //default, i.e., full-credit anwer
                         $answer_weight = 1;
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ class qformat_gift extends qformat_default {
                     $answer = trim($answer);
 
                     // Answer weight
-                    if (preg_match($gift_answerweight_regex, $answer)) {    // check for properly formatted answer weight
+                    if (ereg($gift_answerweight_regex, $answer)) {    // check for properly formatted answer weight
                         $answer_weight = $this->answerweightparser($answer);
                     } else {     //default, i.e., full-credit anwer
                         $answer_weight = 1;
diff --git a/question/format/qti2/format.php b/question/format/qti2/format.php
index 7131ea17467..e6a9dc6f4ee 100644
--- a/question/format/qti2/format.php
+++ b/question/format/qti2/format.php
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ class qformat_qti2 extends qformat_default {
         // Remove all tabs.
         $source = str_replace("\t", '', $source);
         // Remove all space after ">" and before "<".
-        $source = preg_replace("/>( )*/", ">", $source);
-        $source = preg_replace("/( )*</", "<", $source);
+        $source = ereg_replace(">( )*", ">", $source);
+        $source = ereg_replace("( )*<", "<", $source);
 
         // Iterate through the source.
         $level = 0;
diff --git a/question/format/webct/format.php b/question/format/webct/format.php
index 2657929b311..6557c9688f8 100644
--- a/question/format/webct/format.php
+++ b/question/format/webct/format.php
@@ -70,21 +70,21 @@ function qformat_webct_convert_formula($formula) {
     $formula = str_replace(' ', '', $formula);
 
     // Remove paranthesis after e,E and *10**:
-    while (preg_match('/[0-9.](e|E|\\*10\\*\\*)\\([+-]?[0-9]+\\)/', $formula, $regs)) {
+    while (ereg('[0-9.](e|E|\\*10\\*\\*)\\([+-]?[0-9]+\\)', $formula, $regs)) {
         $formula = str_replace(
-                $regs[0], preg_replace('/[)(]/', '', $regs[0]), $formula);
+                $regs[0], ereg_replace('[)(]', '', $regs[0]), $formula);
     }
 
     // Replace *10** with e where possible
-    while (preg_match(
-            '/(^[+-]?|[^eE][+-]|[^0-9eE+-])[0-9.]+\\*10\\*\\*[+-]?[0-9]+([^0-9.eE]|$)/',
+    while (ereg(
+            '(^[+-]?|[^eE][+-]|[^0-9eE+-])[0-9.]+\\*10\\*\\*[+-]?[0-9]+([^0-9.eE]|$)',
             $formula, $regs)) {
         $formula = str_replace(
                 $regs[0], str_replace('*10**', 'e', $regs[0]), $formula);
     }
 
     // Replace other 10** with 1e where possible
-    while (preg_match('/(^|[^0-9.eE])10\\*\\*[+-]?[0-9]+([^0-9.eE]|$)/', $formula, $regs)) {
+    while (ereg('(^|[^0-9.eE])10\\*\\*[+-]?[0-9]+([^0-9.eE]|$)', $formula, $regs)) {
         $formula = str_replace(
                 $regs[0], str_replace('10**', '1e', $regs[0]), $formula);
     }
@@ -94,17 +94,17 @@ function qformat_webct_convert_formula($formula) {
     while (2 == count($splits = explode('**', $formula, 2))) {
 
         // Find $base
-        if (preg_match('/^(.*[^0-9.eE])?(([0-9]+(\\.[0-9]*)?|\\.[0-9]+)([eE][+-]?[0-9]+)?|\\{[^}]*\\})$/',
+        if (ereg('^(.*[^0-9.eE])?(([0-9]+(\\.[0-9]*)?|\\.[0-9]+)([eE][+-]?[0-9]+)?|\\{[^}]*\\})$',
                 $splits[0], $regs)) {
             // The simple cases
             $base = $regs[2];
             $splits[0] = $regs[1];
 
-        } else if (preg_match('/\\)$/', $splits[0])) {
+        } else if (ereg('\\)$', $splits[0])) {
             // Find the start of this parenthesis
             $deep = 1;
             for ($i = 1 ; $deep ; ++$i) {
-                if (!preg_match('/^(.*[^[:alnum:]_])?([[:alnum:]_]*([)(])([^)(]*[)(]){'.$i.'})$/',
+                if (!ereg('^(.*[^[:alnum:]_])?([[:alnum:]_]*([)(])([^)(]*[)(]){'.$i.'})$',
                         $splits[0], $regs)) {
                     error("Parenthesis before ** is not properly started in $splits[0]**");
                 }
@@ -124,17 +124,17 @@ function qformat_webct_convert_formula($formula) {
         }
 
         // Find $exp (similar to above but a little easier)
-        if (preg_match('/^([+-]?(\\{[^}]\\}|([0-9]+(\\.[0-9]*)?|\\.[0-9]+)([eE][+-]?[0-9]+)?))(.*)/',
+        if (ereg('^([+-]?(\\{[^}]\\}|([0-9]+(\\.[0-9]*)?|\\.[0-9]+)([eE][+-]?[0-9]+)?))(.*)',
                 $splits[1], $regs)) {
             // The simple case
             $exp = $regs[1];
             $splits[1] = $regs[6];
 
-        } else if (preg_match('/^[+-]?[[:alnum:]_]*\\(/', $splits[1])) {
+        } else if (ereg('^[+-]?[[:alnum:]_]*\\(', $splits[1])) {
             // Find the end of the parenthesis
             $deep = 1;
             for ($i = 1 ; $deep ; ++$i) {
-                if (!preg_match('/^([+-]?[[:alnum:]_]*([)(][^)(]*){'.$i.'}([)(]))(.*)/',
+                if (!ereg('^([+-]?[[:alnum:]_]*([)(][^)(]*){'.$i.'}([)(]))(.*)',
                         $splits[1], $regs)) {
                     error("Parenthesis after ** is not properly closed in **$splits[1]");
                 }
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
             // Processing multiples lines strings
 
             if (isset($questiontext) and is_string($questiontext)) {
-                if (preg_match("/^:/",$line)) {
+                if (ereg("^:",$line)) {
                     $question->questiontext = addslashes(trim($questiontext));
                     unset($questiontext);
                 }
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
             }
 
             if (isset($answertext) and is_string($answertext)) {
-                if (preg_match("/^:/",$line)) {
+                if (ereg("^:",$line)) {
                     $answertext = addslashes(trim($answertext));
                     $question->answer[$currentchoice] = $answertext;
                     $question->subanswers[$currentchoice] = $answertext;
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
             }
 
             if (isset($responsetext) and is_string($responsetext)) {
-                if (preg_match("/^:/",$line)) {
+                if (ereg("^:",$line)) {
                     $question->subquestions[$currentchoice] = addslashes(trim($responsetext));
                     unset($responsetext);
                 }
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
             }
 
             if (isset($feedbacktext) and is_string($feedbacktext)) {
-                if (preg_match("/^:/",$line)) {
+                if (ereg("^:",$line)) {
                    $question->feedback[$currentchoice] = addslashes(trim($feedbacktext));
                     unset($feedbacktext);
                 }
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
             }
 
             if (isset($generalfeedbacktext) and is_string($generalfeedbacktext)) {
-                if (preg_match("/^:/",$line)) {
+                if (ereg("^:",$line)) {
                    $question->tempgeneralfeedback= addslashes(trim($generalfeedbacktext));
                     unset($generalfeedbacktext);
                 }
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
 
             $line = trim($line);
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:(TYPE|EOF):/i",$line)) {
+            if (eregi("^:(TYPE|EOF):",$line)) {
                 // New Question or End of File
                 if (isset($question)) {            // if previous question exists, complete, check and save it
 
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
 
             // Processing Question Header
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:TYPE:MC:1(.*)/i",$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi("^:TYPE:MC:1(.*)",$line,$webct_options)) {
                 // Multiple Choice Question with only one good answer
                 $question = $this->defaultquestion();
                 $question->feedback = array();
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:TYPE:MC:N(.*)/i",$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi("^:TYPE:MC:N(.*)",$line,$webct_options)) {
                 // Multiple Choice Question with several good answers
                 $question = $this->defaultquestion();
                 $question->feedback = array();
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:TYPE:S/i",$line)) {
+            if (eregi("^:TYPE:S",$line)) {
                 // Short Answer Question
                 $question = $this->defaultquestion();
                 $question->feedback = array();
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:TYPE:C/i",$line)) {
+            if (eregi("^:TYPE:C",$line)) {
                 // Calculated Question
            /*     $warnings[] = get_string("calculatedquestion", "quiz", $nLineCounter);
                 unset($question);
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:TYPE:M/i",$line)) {
+            if (eregi("^:TYPE:M",$line)) {
                 // Match Question
                 $question = $this->defaultquestion();
                 $question->qtype = MATCH;
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:TYPE:P/i",$line)) {
+            if (eregi("^:TYPE:P",$line)) {
                 // Paragraph Question
                 $warnings[] = get_string("paragraphquestion", "quiz", $nLineCounter);
                 unset($question);
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:TYPE:/i",$line)) {
+            if (eregi("^:TYPE:",$line)) {
                 // Unknow Question
                 $warnings[] = get_string("unknowntype", "quiz", $nLineCounter);
                 unset($question);
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:TITLE:(.*)/i",$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi("^:TITLE:(.*)",$line,$webct_options)) {
                 $name = trim($webct_options[1]);
                 if (strlen($name) > 255) {
                     $name = substr($name,0,250)."...";
@@ -473,9 +473,9 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:IMAGE:(.*)/",$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi("^:IMAGE:(.*)",$line,$webct_options)) {
                 $filename = trim($webct_options[1]);
-                if (preg_match("#^http://#",$filename)) {
+                if (eregi("^http://",$filename)) {
                     $question->image = $filename;
                 }
                 continue;
@@ -486,9 +486,9 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
             if (!isset($question)) {
                 continue;
             } 
-            if (isset($question->qtype ) && CALCULATED == $question->qtype && preg_match(
-                    "/^:([[:lower:]].*|::.*)-(MIN|MAX|DEC|VAL([0-9]+))::?:?($webctnumberregex)/", $line, $webct_options)) {
-                $datasetname = preg_replace('/^::/', '', $webct_options[1]);
+            if (isset($question->qtype ) && CALCULATED == $question->qtype && ereg(
+                    "^:([[:lower:]].*|::.*)-(MIN|MAX|DEC|VAL([0-9]+))::?:?($webctnumberregex)", $line, $webct_options)) {
+                $datasetname = ereg_replace('^::', '', $webct_options[1]);
                 $datasetvalue = qformat_webct_convert_formula($webct_options[4]);
                 switch ($webct_options[2]) {
                     case 'MIN':
@@ -512,27 +512,27 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
             }
 
 
-            $bIsHTMLText = preg_match("/:H$/",$line);  // True if next lines are coded in HTML
-            if (preg_match("/^:QUESTION/",$line)) {
+            $bIsHTMLText = eregi(":H$",$line);  // True if next lines are coded in HTML
+            if (eregi("^:QUESTION",$line)) {
                 $questiontext="";               // Start gathering next lines
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:ANSWER([0-9]+):([^:]+):([0-9\.\-]+):(.*)/i",$line,$webct_options)) {      /// SHORTANSWER
+            if (eregi("^:ANSWER([0-9]+):([^:]+):([0-9\.\-]+):(.*)",$line,$webct_options)) {      /// SHORTANSWER
                 $currentchoice=$webct_options[1];
                 $answertext=$webct_options[2];            // Start gathering next lines
                 $question->fraction[$currentchoice]=($webct_options[3]/100);
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:ANSWER([0-9]+):([0-9\.\-]+)/i",$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi("^:ANSWER([0-9]+):([0-9\.\-]+)",$line,$webct_options)) {
                 $answertext="";                 // Start gathering next lines
                 $currentchoice=$webct_options[1];
                 $question->fraction[$currentchoice]=($webct_options[2]/100);
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match('/^:FORMULA:(.*)/i', $line, $webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi('^:FORMULA:(.*)', $line, $webct_options)) {
                 // Answer for a CALCULATED question
                 ++$currentchoice;
                 $question->answers[$currentchoice] =
@@ -556,60 +556,60 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:L([0-9]+)/i",$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi("^:L([0-9]+)",$line,$webct_options)) {
                 $answertext="";                 // Start gathering next lines
                 $currentchoice=$webct_options[1];
                 $question->fraction[$currentchoice]=1; 
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:R([0-9]+)/i",$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi("^:R([0-9]+)",$line,$webct_options)) {
                 $responsetext="";                // Start gathering next lines
                 $currentchoice=$webct_options[1];
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match("/^:REASON([0-9]+):?/i",$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi("^:REASON([0-9]+):?",$line,$webct_options)) {
                 $feedbacktext="";               // Start gathering next lines
                 $currentchoice=$webct_options[1];
                 continue;
             }
-            if (preg_match("/^:FEEDBACK([0-9]+):?/i",$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi("^:FEEDBACK([0-9]+):?",$line,$webct_options)) {
                 $generalfeedbacktext="";               // Start gathering next lines
                 $currentchoice=$webct_options[1];
                 continue;
             }
-            if (preg_match('/^:FEEDBACK:(.*)/i',$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi('^:FEEDBACK:(.*)',$line,$webct_options)) {
                 $generalfeedbacktext="";               // Start gathering next lines
                 continue;
             }
-            if (preg_match('/^:LAYOUT:(.*)/i',$line,$webct_options)) {
+            if (eregi('^:LAYOUT:(.*)',$line,$webct_options)) {
             //    ignore  since layout in question_multichoice  is no more used in moodle       
             //    $webct_options[1] contains either vertical or horizontal ;
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (isset($question->qtype ) && CALCULATED == $question->qtype && preg_match('/^:ANS-DEC:([1-9][0-9]*)/i', $line, $webct_options)) {
+            if (isset($question->qtype ) && CALCULATED == $question->qtype && eregi('^:ANS-DEC:([1-9][0-9]*)', $line, $webct_options)) {
                 // We can but hope that this always appear before the ANSTYPE property
                 $question->correctanswerlength[$currentchoice] = $webct_options[1];
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (isset($question->qtype )&& CALCULATED == $question->qtype && preg_match("/^:TOL:($webctnumberregex)/i", $line, $webct_options)) {
+            if (isset($question->qtype )&& CALCULATED == $question->qtype && eregi("^:TOL:($webctnumberregex)", $line, $webct_options)) {
                 // We can but hope that this always appear before the TOL property
                 $question->tolerance[$currentchoice] =
                         qformat_webct_convert_formula($webct_options[1]);
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (isset($question->qtype )&& CALCULATED == $question->qtype && preg_match('/^:TOLTYPE:percent/', $line)) {
+            if (isset($question->qtype )&& CALCULATED == $question->qtype && eregi('^:TOLTYPE:percent', $line)) {
                 // Percentage case is handled as relative in Moodle:
                 $question->tolerance[$currentchoice]  /= 100;
                 $question->tolerancetype[$currentchoice] = 1; // Relative
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (preg_match('/^:UNITS:(.+)/', $line, $webct_options)
+            if (eregi('^:UNITS:(.+)', $line, $webct_options)
                     and $webctunits = trim($webct_options[1])) {
                 // This is a guess - I really do not know how different webct units are separated...
                 $webctunits = explode(':', $webctunits);
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (!empty($question->units) && preg_match('/^:UNITREQ:(.*)/', $line, $webct_options)
+            if (!empty($question->units) && eregi('^:UNITREQ:(.*)', $line, $webct_options)
                     && !$webct_options[1]) {
                 // There are units but units are not required so add the no unit alternative
                 // We can but hope that the UNITS property always appear before this property
@@ -631,17 +631,17 @@ class qformat_webct extends qformat_default {
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (!empty($question->units) && preg_match('/^:UNITCASE:/', $line)) {
+            if (!empty($question->units) && eregi('^:UNITCASE:', $line)) {
                 // This could be important but I was not able to figure out how
                 // it works so I ignore it for now
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (isset($question->qtype )&& CALCULATED == $question->qtype && preg_match('/^:ANSTYPE:dec/', $line)) {
+            if (isset($question->qtype )&& CALCULATED == $question->qtype && eregi('^:ANSTYPE:dec', $line)) {
                 $question->correctanswerformat[$currentchoice]='1';
                 continue;
             }
-            if (isset($question->qtype )&& CALCULATED == $question->qtype && preg_match('/^:ANSTYPE:sig/', $line)) {
+            if (isset($question->qtype )&& CALCULATED == $question->qtype && eregi('^:ANSTYPE:sig', $line)) {
                 $question->correctanswerformat[$currentchoice]='2';
                 continue;
             }
diff --git a/question/format/xml/format.php b/question/format/xml/format.php
index 4a1590c51fe..b6f4b79c519 100755
--- a/question/format/xml/format.php
+++ b/question/format/xml/format.php
@@ -921,9 +921,9 @@ class qformat_xml extends qformat_default {
         case MULTIANSWER:
             $a_count=1;
             foreach($question->options->questions as $question) {
-                $thispattern = '/'.addslashes("{#".$a_count."}").'/';
+                $thispattern = addslashes("{#".$a_count."}");
                 $thisreplace = $question->questiontext;
-                $expout=preg_replace($thispattern, $thisreplace, $expout );
+                $expout=ereg_replace($thispattern, $thisreplace, $expout );
                 $a_count++;
             }
         break;
diff --git a/question/type/calculated/edit_calculated_form.php b/question/type/calculated/edit_calculated_form.php
index bb667befcae..a8cb8332df1 100644
--- a/question/type/calculated/edit_calculated_form.php
+++ b/question/type/calculated/edit_calculated_form.php
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ class question_edit_calculated_form extends question_edit_form {
             $qtextremaining = str_replace('{'.$name.'}', '1', $qtextremaining);
         }
     //     echo "numericalquestion qtextremaining <pre>";print_r($possibledatasets);
-        while  (preg_match('/\{=([^[:space:]}]*)}/', $qtextremaining, $regs1)) {
+        while  (ereg('\{=([^[:space:]}]*)}', $qtextremaining, $regs1)) {
             $qtextsplits = explode($regs1[0], $qtextremaining, 2);
             $qtext =$qtext.$qtextsplits[0];
             $qtextremaining = $qtextsplits[1];
diff --git a/question/type/calculated/questiontype.php b/question/type/calculated/questiontype.php
index 10b69f6b1d1..cbe0545320b 100644
--- a/question/type/calculated/questiontype.php
+++ b/question/type/calculated/questiontype.php
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends question_dataset_dependent_questiontype
         //evaluate the equations i.e {=5+4)
         $qtext = "";
         $qtextremaining = $numericalquestion->questiontext ;
-        while  (preg_match('/\{=([^[:space:]}]*)}/', $qtextremaining, $regs1)) {
+        while  (ereg('\{=([^[:space:]}]*)}', $qtextremaining, $regs1)) {
             $qtextsplits = explode($regs1[0], $qtextremaining, 2);
             $qtext =$qtext.$qtextsplits[0];
             $qtextremaining = $qtextsplits[1];
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends question_dataset_dependent_questiontype
     function custom_generator_set_data($datasetdefs, $formdata){
         $idx = 1;
         foreach ($datasetdefs as $datasetdef){
-            if (preg_match('/^(uniform|loguniform):([^:]*):([^:]*):([0-9]*)$/', $datasetdef->options, $regs)) {
+            if (ereg('^(uniform|loguniform):([^:]*):([^:]*):([0-9]*)$', $datasetdef->options, $regs)) {
                 $defid = "$datasetdef->type-$datasetdef->category-$datasetdef->name";
                 $formdata["calcdistribution[$idx]"] = $regs[1];
                 $formdata["calcmin[$idx]"] = $regs[2];
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends question_dataset_dependent_questiontype
     }
 
     function custom_generator_tools($datasetdef) {
-        if (preg_match('/^(uniform|loguniform):([^:]*):([^:]*):([0-9]*)$/',
+        if (ereg('^(uniform|loguniform):([^:]*):([^:]*):([0-9]*)$',
                 $datasetdef->options, $regs)) {
             $defid = "$datasetdef->type-$datasetdef->category-$datasetdef->name";
             for ($i = 0 ; $i<10 ; ++$i) {
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends question_dataset_dependent_questiontype
     }
     function generate_dataset_item($options) {
 
-        if (!preg_match('/^(uniform|loguniform):([^:]*):([^:]*):([0-9]*)$/',
+        if (!ereg('^(uniform|loguniform):([^:]*):([^:]*):([0-9]*)$',
                 $options, $regs)) {
             // Unknown options...
             return false;
@@ -825,7 +825,7 @@ class question_calculated_qtype extends question_dataset_dependent_questiontype
   //  list($options, $selected) = $this->dataset_optionsa($form, $name);
 
         foreach ($options as $key => $whatever) {
-            if (!preg_match('/^'.LITERAL.'-/', $key) && $key != '0') {
+            if (!ereg('^'.LITERAL.'-', $key) && $key != '0') {
                 unset($options[$key]);
             }
         }
@@ -1173,7 +1173,7 @@ function qtype_calculated_calculate_answer($formula, $individualdata,
         if ($answerlength) {
             /* Try to include missing zeros at the end */
 
-            if (preg_match('/^(.*\\.)(.*)$/', $calculated->answer, $regs)) {
+            if (ereg('^(.*\\.)(.*)$', $calculated->answer, $regs)) {
                 $calculated->answer = $regs[1] . substr(
                         $regs[2] . '00000000000000000000000000000000000000000x',
                         0, $answerlength)
@@ -1233,7 +1233,7 @@ function qtype_calculated_calculate_answer($formula, $individualdata,
                 $calculated->answer = $sign.$answer.$unit;
             } else {
                 // Could be an idea to add some zeros here
-                $answer .= (preg_match('/^[0-9]*$/', $answer) ? '.' : '')
+                $answer .= (ereg('^[0-9]*$', $answer) ? '.' : '')
                         . '00000000000000000000000000000000000000000x';
                 $oklen = $answerlength + ($p10 < 1 ? 2-$p10 : 1);
                 $calculated->answer = $sign.substr($answer, 0, $oklen).$unit;
@@ -1254,7 +1254,7 @@ function qtype_calculated_find_formula_errors($formula) {
 /// Returns false if everything is alright.
 /// Otherwise it constructs an error message
     // Strip away dataset names
-    while (preg_match('/\\{[[:alpha:]][^>} <{"\']*\\}/', $formula, $regs)) {
+    while (ereg('\\{[[:alpha:]][^>} <{"\']*\\}', $formula, $regs)) {
         $formula = str_replace($regs[0], '1', $formula);
     }
 
@@ -1265,7 +1265,7 @@ function qtype_calculated_find_formula_errors($formula) {
     $operatorornumber = "[$safeoperatorchar.0-9eE]";
 
 
-    while (preg_match("/(^|[$safeoperatorchar,(])([a-z0-9_]*)\\(($operatorornumber+(,$operatorornumber+((,$operatorornumber+)+)?)?)?\\)/",
+    while (ereg("(^|[$safeoperatorchar,(])([a-z0-9_]*)\\(($operatorornumber+(,$operatorornumber+((,$operatorornumber+)+)?)?)?\\)",
             $formula, $regs)) {
 
         switch ($regs[2]) {
@@ -1328,11 +1328,11 @@ function qtype_calculated_find_formula_errors($formula) {
             $formula = str_replace($regs[0], $regs[1] . '1', $formula);
         } else {
             // The function call starts the formula
-            $formula = preg_replace("/^$regs[2]\\([^)]*\\)/", '1', $formula);
+            $formula = ereg_replace("^$regs[2]\\([^)]*\\)", '1', $formula);
         }
     }
 
-    if (preg_match("/[^$safeoperatorchar.0-9eE]+/", $formula, $regs)) {
+    if (ereg("[^$safeoperatorchar.0-9eE]+", $formula, $regs)) {
         return get_string('illegalformulasyntax', 'quiz', $regs[0]);
     } else {
         // Formula just might be valid
diff --git a/question/type/datasetdependent/abstractqtype.php b/question/type/datasetdependent/abstractqtype.php
index f35fac618bd..c43eaeebfbf 100644
--- a/question/type/datasetdependent/abstractqtype.php
+++ b/question/type/datasetdependent/abstractqtype.php
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class question_dataset_dependent_questiontype extends default_questiontype {
     }
 
     function restore_session_and_responses(&$question, &$state) {
-        if (!preg_match('/^dataset([0-9]+)[^-]*-(.*)$/',
+        if (!ereg('^dataset([0-9]+)[^-]*-(.*)$',
                 $state->responses[''], $regs)) {
             notify ("Wrongly formatted raw response answer " .
                    "{$state->responses['']}! Could not restore session for " .
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ class question_dataset_dependent_questiontype extends default_questiontype {
     /// Returns the possible dataset names found in the text as an array
     /// The array has the dataset name for both key and value
         $datasetnames = array();
-        while (preg_match('/\\{([[:alpha:]][^>} <{"\']*)\\}/', $text, $regs)) {
+        while (ereg('\\{([[:alpha:]][^>} <{"\']*)\\}', $text, $regs)) {
             $datasetnames[$regs[1]] = $regs[1];
             $text = str_replace($regs[0], '', $text);
         }
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ class question_dataset_dependent_questiontype extends default_questiontype {
     }
 
     function create_virtual_nameprefix($nameprefix, $datasetinput) {
-        if (!preg_match('/([0-9]+)/' . $this->name() . '$', $nameprefix, $regs)) {
+        if (!ereg('([0-9]+)' . $this->name() . '$', $nameprefix, $regs)) {
             error("Wrongly formatted nameprefix $nameprefix");
         }
         $virtualqtype = $this->get_virtual_qtype();
diff --git a/search/documents/assignment_document.php b/search/documents/assignment_document.php
index b795f964005..72ac36eb3d8 100644
--- a/search/documents/assignment_document.php
+++ b/search/documents/assignment_document.php
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ function assignment_get_content_for_index(&$assignment) {
                 } elseif ($submitted->source = 'files'){
                     $SUBMITTED = opendir($submitted->path);
                     while($entry = readdir($SUBMITTED)){
-                        if (preg_match("/^\./", $entry)) continue; // exclude hidden and dirs . and ..
+                        if (ereg("^\.", $entry)) continue; // exclude hidden and dirs . and .. 
                         $path = "{$submitted->path}/{$entry}";
                         $documents[] = assignment_get_physical_file($submission, $assignment, $cm, $path, $context_id, $documents);
                         mtrace("finished attachement $path for {$submission->authors} in assignement {$assignment->name}");