OK I have been for the past year or so wanted to build a website and run a forum, unfortunately I have NO idea about how to do it and where to start I did try looking on the internet but everyone just refers me to sites that sell web space (which is OK I I knew how to make a site and wanted the space).
Can anyone tell how to go about it or where I can find out Please, thanks

As for authoring a WEB site, the first thing is to learn HTML. HTML is the language used to format WEB pages for viewing through a browser. In addition to HTML, you may need to learn technologies like JAVA, Flash, Dreamweaver, PHP and others, depending on the complexity of the page you want to develop.

As for forums, there are many forums you can subscribe to, some of them free, that you can then put on your site. If you JUST weant a forum you might think of creating a Yahoo group. That's easy and free.

Go sign up with this site (http://www.dotnetnukesites.com) (just $4 a month) and they will provide you with everything you need. Web Space, complete website, forums, photo gallery, automated submission to Google, etc. If you aren't sure about something just submit your question to them. I use them for my site. No HTML to learn (you can if you want to), Forums are included as well as many other features. If you already have space or you don't want to use them, PM me, or reply here and I will tell you how to download free forums and put them on your own hosted space.

I just bought a site from dot5hosting.com

$4 a month for 2 yrs, free setup, free domain name for life as long as I stay with them,

They offer free, forum, chat, blog, java scripts, tons of templates, 24hr tech support, you name it, any and everything you need, and I took a long time in finding this one, its an award winning site from more than 1 source.

Excellent so far. The forum was 1 of the easiest things I have setup so far, and it looks cool.

The site I mentioned doesn't require you pay for 2 whole years to get the $4/month price. You can pay month at a time. Also, if you don't like it you can get all your money back. There just is no catch. And Chat, Shopping, Blogs, News, etc are in there too.

Ok, Phroze, I will check out your suggestion, I am testing that webhost against 2 others, Ace-host, and dot5 al are $4 a month, I will get back with my results, shortly.

Froze that cheap webhost you mentioned, is crap, they no longer offer that, and what they offer is nothing most people would want.

A hosting company that is pretty good is www.1and1.com you can use all their resources to build you site with MANY features.

A hosting company that is pretty good is www.1and1.com you can use all their resources to build you site with MANY features.

I tried them and can not cancel unless I fax my signature.

I've got another angle:

Spend $80 for Microsoft FrontPage. You'll find doing just about anything you want just a few clicks away. And it's gravy to learn.

I've got another angle:

Spend $80 for Microsoft FrontPage. You'll find doing just about anything you want just a few clicks away. And it's gravy to learn.

PS-Edit: Dreamweaver is my choice for software, but it's much more expensive... but if your site is not-for-profit, you can get Dreamweaver Academic Version for about $100.

I started my first website on www.freewebs.com. It is free, and they have great support to help out those new to web design. Hope that helps!
-Alfredo