[andrewas]

you sure you upgraded it and did not get a no gold message of something? it dosent change in appearance if i recall. now that the obvious is out of the way...

i cant think of anything else. make sure its on a mage - it dont work with druids/clerics (i know somone that tried though) and make sure you can actualy cast spells of that level. do other spell-granting items work - ring of acuity/wizardy, the zerth blade etc.