Files test HASANSWER()

I get an error when trying to do a upload on the files test.
I test the file to see if it is already uploaded. If already on file I make a note of it to the user.
I'm trying to upload a file that is NOT on file, but the file test always says it's is already on file.
I burned the directory and file name into the first test and it works.
However the second test that uses field names for the directory and file, it fails??
here is the messages I get based on the code below.
test1 gives the correct test
test2 gives the incorrect test

test1 - c:\rbp\album_project\media\ben28.jpg not on file
---------------------------
test2 - c:\rbp\album_project\media\ben28.jpg already on file

What am I doing wrong???
Thanks for the help

 html "<center><TABLE BORDER=1 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0><TR><TD BGCOLOR=tan>"
 upload "Select a file to upload"; newmedId$
 html "</TD</TR></TABLE>"

files	#f, "c:\rbp\album_project\media\ben28.jpg"
if #f HASANSWER() > 0 then 
	html "test1 - c:\rbp\album_project\media\ben28.jpg already on file"
 else
	html "test1 - c:\rbp\album_project\media\ben28.jpg not on file"
end if
html "<HR>"

projectDir$ 	= "album_project"
mediaDir$	= DefaultDir$ + "\" + projectDir$ + "\media\" 

files	#f, mediadDir$;newmedId$
if #f HASANSWER() > 0 then 
	html "test2 - ";mediaDir$;newmedId$;" already on file"
 else
	html "test2 - ";mediaDir$;newmedId$;" not on file"
end if