I may be OK when it comes to overclocking and making a machine work well but when it comes to software, I'm a slow learner.

My question is simple: How do I set up a website?

I'd like to set up a site and host photos and stuff, but haven't the first faintest clue how to.

Do I need to learn HTML? Will it cost me?

I'm using AOL (stop laughing!) and they have a service that says I can create a web site but I'm wary that it's not actually 'the real mcCoy'.

Anyways, in this area I'm a complete newbie. Any advice, info, links to good (free?) hosters would be apreciated.

It took me some considerable courage to post this, but I'm keen to learn, this is one area I've never approached. All advice gratefully recieved

Normally I would say, "start with your ISP" but as you are using AOHell we may have to look elsewhere.

Learning HTML is not as hard as you may think and there are plenty of "how-to's" around the web.

Start off with paper & pencil, sketch out a rough design, view the source code of websites you like to see how they did it, then I would suggest getting to grips with something like Dreamweaver.

Dreamweaver can be quite intuitive give it a trial. Try to leave Frontpage alone, it writes bad code.

As for hosting your site, I can highly recommend www.alwayswebhosting.com ...

Dam ... I have a better Idea, I can host it myself and give you full access. You will still have to design your site though.

PM me if your interested.

hehe - I use frontpage Mucks I admit, it can write a little sloppy code, but once tidied its ok!

Designing your site is easy enough if you can use programs like Powerpoint/Word/Published - as it is along similar lines. Uploading can be straight forward if you know how to use an FTP client? If not me and Mucks will guide you through (An idea for an article!)

Thanks for the replies I still a little confused but thinking about it. I recall I have a 'write your own web page' programme somewhere, came as a Magazine freebie CD a year or so ago. I'll have to dig it out and let you know what it is and which version.

I'll be back!

Should have me hands on a copy of Dreamweaver 2/Fireworks by the end of the week so as Arnie says, I'll be back

Keep an eye out for the postman.

You're a good man Mucks...

This is something I've been meaning to do for a long time, but have held off. Only way to do it - jump in the deep end and sink or swim

Use dreamweaver - very easy and powerful to use. All you need is a simple HTML page to bring up the pictures and annotate them I'm guessing? Dreamweaver, frontpage, etc can all do that. If you fancy getting your teeth into some simple HTML though, I have HTML 4 for dummies and it's quite useful. I think I'll have a stab at my webpage soon

You need a few things to access your website:
FTP program (like cuteFTP) to upload files to the internet server.
Editor / HTML book to create a page to be read by browsers.

Once those are working you should be able to muddle through...

Thanks for the encouragement in getting Flopps interested.

Dreamweaver comes with everything you need, including its own FTP program. It also has an excellent 'tutorial' where you go through individual 'lessons' to building your own site.

Mucks.