after much more reading I came up with the following, but it still doesn't do anything.
I tested the board and pic by using the blinking led program and it works, and then modified that to alternativly turn on then off each led on port B (cycle through them) and that works, so the board works fine

I just cant figure out how to get the lcd working.

Code:
define device pic16F887,HS_osc
Define OSC 8
adcon1 = 7
trisb=%00000000

'****************************************************************
'*  Name    : Test.BAS                                          *
'*  Author  : Lewis                                             *
'*  Notice  :                                                   *
'*          : All Rights Reserved                               *
'*  Date    : 07/12/2009                                        *
'*  Version : 1.0                                               *
'*  Notes   :                                                   *
'*          :                                                   *
'****************************************************************

   'LCD DEFINATION
        DEFINE LCD_DREG PORTB       ' Set LCD Data port
        DEFINE LCD_DBIT 0           ' Set starting Data bit (0) 
        DEFINE LCD_RSREG PORTB      ' Set LCD Register Select port
        DEFINE LCD_RSBIT 4          ' Set LCD Register Select bit, Port B.4
        DEFINE LCD_EREG PORTB       ' Set LCD Enable port
        DEFINE LCD_EBIT 5           ' Set LCD Enable bit, PORTB.5
        DEFINE LCD_BITS 4           ' Set LCD bus size 4 bits
        DEFINE LCD_LINES 2         ' Set number of lines on LCD to 4 Lines
        DEFINE LCD_COMMANDUS 2000   ' Set command delay time in us
        DEFINE LCD_DATAUS 50        ' Set data delay time in us

'*******************************************************************************
   pause 500       ' Wait for LCD to startup

loop:   Lcdout $fe, 1   ' Clear LCD screen
        Lcdout "Hello" ' Display Hello
        Pause 500       ' Wait .5 second

        Lcdout $fe, 1   ' Clear LCD screen
        Lcdout "World"
        Pause 500       ' Wait .5 second

        Goto loop       ' Do it forever
Anyone?