I've had enough of not being able to see my includes and wondering if my free webspace has the features I need.

I'd like to set up my "Spare" PC as a web server, accessible from anywhere. This is just for practicing websites, knowing I have full control over the server, rather than having to get the service provider on the phone every time I have a problem that might be at their end (Usually between 11 Sunday night and 4 the next morning, lol)

I want to know where to start.

- Gonna run WinXP as that's what I've got (Will migrate later I'm sure)

- Apache if that's OK to start with

- Not too bothered about security as nothing on it will be critical.

- Don't need a 'proper' url, just numeric IP will be fine to start with

Where do I go from here? I've not installed XP on the server machine yet. Want to start collecting required software before that.

I need a list of software to collect, best order to install in and any handy notes on said installations.

Any help very much appreciated

You can look into Uniform Server, which installs Apache and some other servers as a fairly self contained unit.

just buy some web space like I do, and stop being so tight , doing yer own is NOT the way!!

I don't think Windows XP will be a very good server, see if you can run Windows Server 2003 or if you're comfortable, go with a distribution of Linux. As for the IP, i'm assuming you don't have a dedicated internet line for it, so you probably have a router. Use port forwarding and forward port 80 to that local IP and assign a static IP to that computer. That should get you started, Ubuntu is a good linux distribution to start with.