PBP uses FLAGS.1 (LCDINITFLAG) to remember that it's already initialized the LCD. By setting it to 1, you can make PBP think it's already done, then you can go ahead and do the init manually.

I don't think the Proto-Board itself would cause the display not to work. But I do agree with Keith in that somewhere along the line, something was probably wired wrong, then both displays were tried, and now both displays are most likely dead. It only takes a couple ms of reverse power to fry them.

The reason I say that is because LCD's that haven't been initialized always show black squares on 1 line. From what I understand, you don't even get those.

It may be time to cut your loses, and move on.