Full Software Requirements For XP Home

Hi!



I am a student teacher who wants to futuristically create dynamic
websites featuring communication and information for both students and
parents, which link to my teacher records (grades and student portfolio
evidence documents). I am an absolute beginner to Dynamic Websites.
I am able to create static webpages in Dreamweaver MX together with
multimedia, rollovers, tables, buttons etc (I have the basic suite -
not ColdFusion). I have XP Home SP2 and all current updates,
which appears to include .Net Framework 1.1 sp1. I am running
Trend 2007 firewall. I do have basic (but old) database knowledge
and can create strings in Excel to manipulate cell data. Other
than that I learned to program in BASIC about 25 years ago (I wrote
several games such as TICTACTOE etc - so I sort of know how programing
operates. However, other than that I have never learned to
actually program or code. I'm not opposed to learning; however, I suspect that from scratch this is quite an undertaking.



I would like to install the free 'Express' packages...after searching
the web in a confused and looping mannar to find out exactly what I
need to install (and how) etc. I have investigated PHP, MySQL
etc, as well as copious quantities of .Net and ASP.Net through the
microsoft website and forums, and macromedia and other beginner
tutorials.



This is what I understand I will have to do:


install webmatrix as a web server to provide local ability to test and view my dynamic web pages.
install .Net Framework 2.0 (I only have 1.1 currently)


install SQL Express as an application side-server (I have downloaded MySQL as a database - not yet installed).
install VWD Express
install VB Express
install either C#, C++ Express (I've read that Java is not wonderfully secure or some such)
install MySQL database (I also do need a DB, don't I? - I've done
some basic tutorials and this appears easy enough to learn - I only
have Student/Teacher Office 2003, so no Access (and I can't afford to
purchase on a poor student budget)).

Is this correctt? Have I covered it all (when Micromedia MX is
included)? Is this the correct installation order? Have I
doubled up anywhere? Have I done my homework efficiently?
There appears to be a conglomeration of information, but no step by
step instructions as to exactly what is needed in order to create
dynamic webpages that are testable and viewable and exactly what order
to install them on. And lastly, will this enable me to create the
type of thing I have described as per above? Which language
should I choose - C# or C++ - I understand that C++ provides more
controlled functionality - however, isn't C# newer?


Precise answers to my queries, and advice for my misconceptions would be greatly appreciated.



PS - beginner - please don't use jargonistic language.

Thanks



Fran...