16f88 can't get lcd to work

[mister_e]

try....

PAUSE 2000
Lcdout $fe, 1, "Hello" ' Display Hello
Pause 2000
LCDOUT $FE,1,"John"
Spin: goto Spin

if it doesn't work, you may need to double check your hardware, make sure your programmer program the config fuses, and make sure your MCLR pin is not floating.

usual... 0.1uF cap close to the PIC, LCD R/W pin to GND and so on

In general the HS_OSC fuse may work with 4MHZ crystal but also try with XT_OSC to see if it make any difference.