Is it possible via the admin control panel to enforce this i.e. new users require a mod/admin to accept membership before granting access to the forum or would it be a question of adding a new role/access mask and restricting access to everything until an admin approves their account and changes there role to one which accurately reflects there intended privileges?

cheers, James.

- Create a New Role something like "Unauthorized User" make sure the Setting "Is Start" is enabled, limit all Settings of that User or copy the Settings from the Guest Role

- Assign all Access Mask for all Forums to "Read Only" or whatever you like.

- Disable the "Is Start" Setting from The "Registered" Role

Optional: Enable Email Notification for the Users that should authorize the Users.

Then you have an Manual Approval Member Registration Process.

you can solve it by this topic: http://forum.yetanotherforum.net/yaf_postst11135_upgrade-1-9-3-to-1-9-5-Error.aspx