Hi Craig,
Thanks for reply..
The 44780 spec requires that the data (RS, RW, D4-D7) be placed on the bus some amount of time before raising the EN line. I seem to remember 40ns. If the '541 is driving the 6 lines all at once then you are loading the lines virtually simultaneously and ignoring the 40ns required address setup time.

You may be able to solve this problem by first having the '541 send out the data with the E line low and then send out the same data with the LCD's EN line high. That should give the 44780 the 40ns it requires.

My program is not putting RS RW EN D4-D7 simultaneously onto the buffer. The sequence is as follows.

1. RW is hard tied to GND.
2. RS is set.
3. Data is put onto D4-D7 without affecting onther buffer inputs.
3. EN is set.
4. Wait for 10uS.
5. EN is cleared.

Regards,
Prahlad Purohit.