Login Script Issues

[Titan85]

I created a login script that works fine, but for some reason the first time I try to login it simply shows the login page again. Then when I get to the control panel and click on a link it once again returns me to the login page. On the 3rd login it works fine. Here is the login page script:
<?php

$ip = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];

if ($_POST['login']) {
$user = $_POST['user'];
$pass = md5($_POST['password']);

$chk_user = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `clients` WHERE username = '$user'") or die ('Error Getting User Data! <br />' .mysql_error());
$u = mysql_fetch_array($chk_user);
$chk = mysql_num_rows($chk_user);

if ($chk < 1) {
echo '<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="2;URL=../login.php" />
The user <b>'.$user.'</b> does not exist!';
}
elseif ($pass !== $u['password']) {
echo '<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="2;URL=../login.php" />
Incorrect password';
}
elseif($pass == $u['password']) {

$user = $_POST['user'];
$pass = md5($_POST['password']);
@session_start();
$_SESSION['user'] = $user;
$_SESSION['pass'] = $pass;
$_SESSION['ip'] = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];

echo '<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="2;URL=/beta/client_cp" />
'.$user.', you are now logged in, redirecting you to the main page...';
}
}

elseif (!$_POST['login']) {
?>
<div id="login"><b>Please Log In</b>
<!-- Login Form -->
<form name="login" method="post" action="">
<table width="230" align="center">
<tr>
<td><b>Username:</b></td>
<td><input type="text" name="user" class="input" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Password:</b></td>
<td><input type="password" name="password" class="input" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="right"><input type="submit" name="login" value="Login" /></td>
</tr>
</table>
</form>
<!-- /Login Form -->
</div>
<?
}

?>This is how I check if logged in:
@session_start();
if(empty($_SESSION['user']) || empty($_SESSION['pass']) || $_SESSION['ip'] != $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']) {
header('Location: ../login.php');
}Is there any obvious reason for this issue? Thanks for the help

[thetestingsite]

Try placing session_start() at the very beginning of the code (directly underneath the opening php tag). Also, when you do this, don't forget to take out the line @session_start().

Hope this helps.

[Titan85]

Try placing session_start() at the very beginning of the code (directly underneath the opening php tag). Also, when you do this, don't forget to take out the line @session_start().

Hope this helps.EDIT
still having issues, see below.

[Titan85]

Actually, now it has the same problem again. I moved the session_start() and it just makes it loop. It seems that it never sets the session variables. Any ideas? Thanks