Since the easyupload update is not available yet for oscommerce 2.3.1, why don't you keep/recreate the 2.2 ms version in other site and working on the easypopulate to create its database. When you're finished, then you can create a backup sql file from that 2.2ms site, and upload it to your new live real website that has already in 2.3.1 version.
just a thought.