Current site in Windows server

I have a html website currently on a Windows server (shared hosting). The web host assures me that their server is php and MySQL enabled. I want to re-design the site using WordPress, installing it in a sub-directory until I get it ready to launch so that the existing site will continue to be visible to the public in the meantime.

I’ve downloaded wordpress, created the database on the server, created a database user, edited the wp-config.php with my chosen database name, user name and password, entered the database host name as the 00.00.00.000 value given in my control panel (host said ‘localhost’ would be incorrect) and uploaded all the files to a sub-directory.

Now, when trying to run the install script I get an error message, Error making a connection to database. I’ve double and triple-checked the database and database user name and password, and still can’t make it go.

Am I letting myself in for a world of hurt by attempting to do this on a Windows server? This hosting company does offer a Linux server, I’ve already created one site from scratch on there, but I thought it would be simpler to leave this existing site where it is rather than have them move it. If they move the site, I’m sure it will require a DNS change, and that will mean downtime for the site, which I really don’t want. But I’ve read some older threads that talk about plug-ins not working in a Windows environment. I’m not sure what I should do.