can’t connect to database?

Hey all
I want to look into what exactly the config file wants as far as database info is concerned. If my db is not on ‘localhost’ do i need a fully articulated host name? Do i need a brand new empty MySQL database?

I ask because i used the exact same database info (cut and pasted from) in my POS Blog that I put in the wp-config.php and the POS blog has no trouble reaching the db, but wordpress is throwing the can’t connect error.

My provider supports the POS blog that i hate, but does not support wordpress, so any help you can provide would be really good.