Does it matter if I’m using two different machines for programming? I use my desktop to go online and compile the program. I save the HEX file to a 3 ½” floppy, transfer to my laptop and program the PIC using the EPIC DOS program.
absolutely not!

In your case it still seems to be a kind of baudrate problem... But only to be sure...
  • 1. Is your MCLR pin (pin 4) is tie to VCC ?
    2. Do you place capacitors (around 15pf) if using crystal?
    3. is a simple LED blink program on this PORTB.1 pin is working ?
    4. Is your supply line = 5Volt and clean ?
    5. What about if you add this line : DEFINE CHAR_PACING 1000
    6. what about if you try higher baudrate ?
    7. Is LCD ground is attach to the PIC ground?