Helle Everyone,

Thank you for all your suggestions.

Let me give you these comments to your posts:

- Yes, the contrast works fine; but only on first line of the display - as long as I won't have find the specific data-sheet for this display, I'll have a doubt so I will buy a new one (already done yesterday - should arrive today);

- The first display I used must have had a problem - since I use my second one, the PIC is staying "cold";

- About the wiring which is very simple, I effectively started all over again with coloured wires to avoid any mistakes;

- I use ICSP and keep only the Vdd and GND pins connected after the programming operation - I have built the AN589 programmer and added a switch to connect/disconnet MCLR, DATA and CLOCK instead of removing wires each time (btw, how do you do this?);

- Yes, I used the example in the PBP manual and since it was not working, I found other examples such as Mikroelectronika and Chuck Hellebuyck's book;

- My knowledge in electronic is basic (I'm an electrician) and have been making lots of gadgets for years - I would not be able to develop a complicated circuit even if Ohm's law is not a problem to me - I mostly grab some peace of schematics from here and there and adapt them together.

I highly appreciate your help and I won't make you waste your time anymore until I am sure about the display I use. I cannot believe it still doesn't work after all your suggestions.