Making a website with freeware
For a free web site check here, here, or here. My Geocities site (Geocities is now closed) allowed only 15Mb, which was OK since I use mostly text. There are now sites that allot much more space, allow FTP and which don't require advertising. I recommend buying a domain name. I recently registered a domain (2yrs for $12) with Internet.bs and began a website at 2Kmegs. Within a week 2KMegs was down. I'm now paying $3.50/mo for a site on Ipage which has proved very satisfactory. Choose a site that offers web statistics to give you some feel for site usage and how to adjust it so that viewers use it efficiently. Keep in mind that free providers tend to offer little space, put ads on your site and/or be unreliable.
Download programs from CNET downloads. I searched various categories for highly rated, free programs. Before downloading a program check out what it actually does. Not all programs in a given category do everything.
To begin with you need an HTML editor. This inserts code and toggles between code and the actual page. You can insert code from a menu and even write your own tags. I prefer a text (hand) coder. It minimizes code and lets me know exactly what I'm doing. After I insert code I toggle to make sure it's done what I thought it would do. TSW Web Coder 5 is similar to HomeSite. In many ways (including cost) it's better - some suggestions for first time users. HTML basics for HTML beginners.The freeware version is no longer available. I've gone to HTML-Kit. Keep in mind that text editors have a learning curve (can be opaque to begin with). If you're looking for a wysiwyg editor (similar to frontpage) check out Nvu.
Most sites require an FTP (file transfer protocol) program . I recommend ftp for convenience. Core FTP Lite works well. You begin with a site manager dialog box. Enter site address, user name and password as well as the folders you're transferring from and to. Clicking "connect" displays "from" and "to" directories. Simply highlight a folder and click the arrow to move it from one side to the other. The directories display dates that files were created so you know which are new and which are old. Be careful not to replace new files for old (unless you intend to).
Irfanview converts picture file formats, crops pictures and changes dimensions (see web tutorial). You'll need to learn about file formats (.bmp, .jpg, .gif, .png)
Easycapture captures images (or parts thereof) from your computer screen. Edit these with Irfanview or incorporate them directly into a web site.