Here is my source:

Code:
#include <winsock.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>


#define MESSAGE "operator"

int main()
{

WSADATA wsda;
struct hostent *host;

FILE *outputfile;

char szInBuffer[128];
int  iBufferLen;

char szMessage[80];
int  iMessageLen=0;
int  ret;

char szAddress[]="sco3";
int  iPort = 23;    /* telnet port*/

SOCKET s;
SOCKADDR_IN addr;

strcpy(szMessage, MESSAGE);

// load version 1.1 of winsock
WSAStartup(MAKEWORD(1,1), &wsda);


	if ((outputfile = fopen("C:\\messages.txt", "a+")) == NULL)
	{
		fprintf(stderr, "Cannot open %s\n", outputfile);
		return 0;
	}


// create a tcp socket
fprintf(outputfile,"Creating a socket....\n");
s=socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, IPPROTO_IP);

// error creating socket ?
if (s == SOCKET_ERROR){
	fprintf(outputfile,"ERROR --- Call to socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, IPPROTO_IP); failed with:\n%d\n", WSAGetLastError());
	exit(1);
}
fprintf(outputfile,"Everything going OK\n");

// fill in host information
addr.sin_family      = AF_INET;
addr.sin_port        = htons(iPort);
addr.sin_addr.s_addr = inet_addr(szAddress);

// if the address was not in numeric form, resolve it....
if(addr.sin_addr.s_addr == INADDR_NONE){
	host=NULL;
	fprintf(outputfile,"Resolving host....\n");
	host=gethostbyname(szAddress);
	if(host==NULL){
		fprintf(outputfile,"Error --- unknown host: %s\n", szAddress);
		exit(1);
	}
	memcpy(&addr.sin_addr, host->h_addr_list[0], host->h_length);
	fprintf(outputfile,"OK, moving on .....\n");
}
// connecting to the server
fprintf(outputfile,"Connecting to %s: Port %d\n", szAddress, iPort);
ret = connect(s, (struct sockaddr *) &addr, sizeof(addr));
if(ret == SOCKET_ERROR){
	fprintf(outputfile,"ERROR --- Call to connect(s, (SOCKADDR)addr, sizeof(addr)) failed with:\n%d\n", 	WSAGetLastError());
	exit(1);
}
fprintf(outputfile,"Connected !!\n");

// send data
fprintf(outputfile,"Sending data.....\n");
ret = send(s, szMessage, iMessageLen, 0);
if(ret == SOCKET_ERROR){
	fprintf(outputfile,"ERROR --- Call to send(s, szMessage, iMessageLen, 0) failed with:\n%d\n", WSAGetLastError());
	exit(1);
}

// receive data
fprintf(outputfile,"Waiting for a response.....\n");
ret = recv(s, szInBuffer, sizeof(szInBuffer), 0);
if(ret == SOCKET_ERROR){
	fprintf(outputfile,"ERROR --- Call to recv(s, szInBuffer, sizeof(szInBuffer), 0) failed with:\n%d\n", 	        WSAGetLastError());
	exit(1);
}

fprintf(outputfile,"Response received !\n");

iBufferLen = ret;
szInBuffer[iBufferLen] = '\0';

fprintf(outputfile,"Response received from %s:\n\"%s\"\n", szAddress, szInBuffer);

// cleanup
fclose(outputfile);
closesocket(s);
WSACleanup();
return 0;
}
and here is my outputfile:

Creating a socket....
Everything going OK
Resolving host....
OK, moving on .....
Connecting to sco3: Port 23
Connected !!
Sending data.....
Waiting for a response.....
Response received !
Response received from sco3:
"ÿý%"

Could someone please explain to me why i get these weird characters, and what to do to resolve this frustrating problem ?

Many thanks in advance !