o.k., I tried it again...
PP 4.8c
I downloaded the jhead file for non-root access ("Pre-built Linux executable built on RedHat 7.2") at:
http://www.sentex.net/~mwandel/jhead/
I created a "bin" folder on my server and uploaded (ftp) in binary mode this jhead file into it. Permissions 755. I deleted the .txt ending and the file is called now only "jhead"
I set then the path in config (admin menu) to this directory to the file (incl. the file name in it).
I uploaded a photo which has exif information (100% sure)
I rescanned all photos in admin menu with the option:
"Check here to rescan photos and save EXIF information."
The result is the same as above, no exif information.
I checked my server with phpinfo, this is the information:
----------------------
EXIF Support enabled
EXIF Version 1.4 $Id: exif.c,v 1.118.2.27 2003/12/17 09:08:37 helly Exp $
Supported EXIF Version 0220
Supported filetypes JPEG,TIFF
-------------------------------
I use GD2 for thumbnailing, if this is of any interest in this case
Where is my problem? What did I forget?