16x2 display not displaying text only white boxes on top row

bperrybap:
Don,
While I have seen that issue as well, I have a breadboard that looks just like the one in the photo, and each of the power rail bars run the full length to all the holes.

MarsUN,
The solder connections are really poor. You will likely have issues until you clean up the soldering.

--- bill

alright I guess I'll try to re solder it