Ok, I think sometimes the gap in time that a user waits for a response enables them to take a break and come back with a fresh mind. Here is what I found out by poking around:
In my catalog>admin>includes>configure.php file this was the code:
// define our database connection
define('DB_SERVER', ''); // eg, localhost - should not be empty for productive servers
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', '');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '');
define('DB_DATABASE', 'osCommerce');
define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false'); // use persistent connections?
define('STORE_SESSIONS', ''); // leave empty '' for default handler or set to 'mysql'
When I changed the variables to the information for mysql server ... Pow.. it connected and worked. I was able to reapply the instructions that Mibble recommended for easy populate and also Ronin's suggestion for setting the
$price_with_tax = false;
(thank you) and now shop is up, admin works and PRICES ARE CORRECT!!!
VICTORY.... and no tears.... well almost :D
Thanks for all your help and support!!!! Now if I can just get that darn warning to go away on the index.php I'd be set! Warning: I am able to write to the configuration file: /services/webpages/b/u/buckscountychoppers.com/public/catalog/includes/configure.php. This is a potential security risk - please set the right user permissions on this file.