how do i find out my hostname?

Usually it’s the same as your hosting login. But check with your host.

my hosting company doesn’t know either, what should i do?

your host doesn’t know your ftp host name?

the advice host gave was to try typing ‘localhost’ or my domain name, other than that they don’t know what it could be

please help if you can, thanks in advance

you need your ftp host name
typically
ftp.yoursite.com

some ISPs generate a unique host name for security reasons. ‘localhost’ is the default name given in most installations.

check the hosting administration section of your ISP to see if alternate names for your database are being used.

ATTENTION
this has NOTHING to do with the database user or passwords
the OP wants to get plugins and themes, etc. to upload thru the wp interface
this is done with FTP

still can’t get this to work i’m afraid, i’ve tried this and all that i can think of, here is the screen shot

[URL=https://s174.photobucket.com/albums/w100/ruch1v/?action=view&current=wp.jpg][IMG]https://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w100/ruch1v/th_wp.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

by the way, for username and password do i put in my wp one or my host one? (i should have probably mentioned earlier that i installed this through fantastico)

thanks

[URL=https://s174.photobucket.com/albums/w100/ruch1v/?action=view&current=wp.jpg][IMG]https://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w100/ruch1v/th_wp.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

sorry, see this link https://s174.photobucket.com/albums/w100/ruch1v/?action=view&current=wp.jpg