I've done a fresh install, imported data but keeps reverting to fresh install

I have built a website locally which appears to be working fine. When I transfer it up to a fresh install on a server to put it live (FTP of WP-Content Files, Export SQL, Search & Replace of local name to server name throughout database, I have done this a number of times before) when I load the website it keeps going to a fresh install!

I have checked the SQL data, the data exists but it keep defaulting to a fresh install!!!

I was going to rebuild the site as its quite small but the Admin panel is running like a dog and the links on the left keep disappearing, so that would prove more time consuming.

I tried exporting the Website though XML, but when I import into the (repeatedly) fresh install, that doesn’t appear to be working either!