Home website hosting question

sure

you can but until you host it for real public access, it's not necessary. I always install as a service and DISABLE the autostart.
When I'm testing, I then use NET {START/STOP} APACHE2. When you're
ready to go live, you can then revert the service to automatic.

I didn't say that; it's just non-standard and allows you to do things that are not portable and thus you get into BAD habits and don't learn the right way to do things (eg: web standards)

sure. for server config and other suggestions, let's take it offline with private messages

depends on the tools you can use. The easy way is a TAR or ZIP archive of the site, but your current ISP is unlikely to help you create and email it to you.

If you know FTP, then you can bring each directory one at a time to your new \apache\htdocs location -- let's table that for now.

btw: learn in steps and install only what you can use at one time.
I suggest install Apache in C:\Apache and php at C:\PHP immediately.
This will allow serving pages and time for you to learn CSS.
Defer MySQL until you get CGI programming skills (install it @ C:\MySQL).
These install locations makes maintenance easier and your website more secure.

Homework: "Why is the cgi-bin directory NOT a subdir of apache\htdocs\ ?"

best wishes, Jeff

Thanks Jeff. I will take you up on the offer to PM as Im sure il get stuck along the way!

Yes I know ftp, so its easy enough to pull down a copy of all my sites, just wondering if there might be any troubles with versions of php etc, should be fine though i guess.

Anyway, the broadband is ordered now, should be setup in abuot two weeks i hope then i will install apache and php (already have a beginners book ready to learn as well) As for mysql I might have to rush into that as I have a website to go up in a few weeks with forum, member login etc - but i will hopefully reseearch that in the next few days. hopefully can just get a sort of ready made forum?

Now have my server up and running: dell poweredge 300:
Single 800mhz P3 processor (max 2), 512mb ram, 80gb hard drive, lan card. Windows XP pro.

really would like to get a second processor so if anyone heres of one going...

Now just need to wait for the broadband connection