Xampp Remote Connect to MYSQL DB

[codex73]

I'm sure I've had this working previously on lower versions. Problem I'm having is connecting php to external mysql db. The remote server allows connection and I'm sending the correct parameters and have php code ok. This is the error I can't get around.

Warning: mysql_connect() [function.mysql-connect]: Premature end of data (mysqlnd_wireprotocol.c:554) in C:\xampp\htdocs\projects\payfix.php on line 8

Warning: mysql_connect() [function.mysql-connect]: OK packet 1 bytes shorter than expected in C:\xampp\htdocs\projects\payfix.php on line 8

Warning: mysql_connect() [function.mysql-connect]: mysqlnd cannot connect to MySQL 4.1+ using the old insecure authentication. Please use an administration tool to reset your password with the command SET PASSWORD = PASSWORD('your_existing_password'). This will store a new, and more secure, hash value in mysql.user. If this user is used in other scripts executed by PHP 5.2 or earlier you might need to remove the old-passwords flag from your my.cnf file in C:\xampp\htdocs\projects\payfix.php on line 8
Unable to select database:::Access denied for user ''@'localhost' to database 'metasys_cart'