Help needed!
I am a newbie to databse driven websites - and I need some help.
I am looking for the following - very simple, but not sure the best way to go about it…
1) Basic, static website consisting of 3 or 4 pages (I can do this easily in HTML)
2) A "signup" section (Contact details & referrer)
3) A section that updates, displaying total users
4) Ideally a section that allows users to see who has subscribed under them
I am totally new to all of this - So I'd love any pointers anyone can give me. E.g.
Do I need a database for the above? (Or can I use something else?)
What is the best / easiest Database to use?
How do I get started?
Is there a free way of doing this? (Free database hosting? if needed)
Can anyone help out?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Steven

Do I need a database for the above? (Or can I use something else?)

Ideally, yes. You can do it without a database, but realisticly speaking, use a database.

What is the best / easiest Database to use?

There's no 'best' database to use. Which one you use depends on a few things - what you're comfortable learning, what your host supports (if you have one already), what you're using it for...
My advice here would be to read about the options you have (google search each one) and then make your choice. The most popular are Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Oracle and MySQL.

How do I get started?

As well as a database, you'll also need to know some sort of server side language to read and write to the database from the web pages. Although most languages work with most databases, some work better together than others - for example most people who code in ASP.NET use SQL Server, and those who code in PHP usually use MySQL. Again, look at your options and learn about them, and then make a desicion. (Personally, I would highly reccomend using ASP.NET and Sql Server).
Once you've chosen, there's thousands of tutorials on the web to get you started. And there's always us lot here to help out if you get stuck.
For getting started on ASP.NET, see www.asp.net

Is there a free way of doing this? (Free database hosting? if needed)

Your main cost will be paying for hosting. There are free hosts, but only a few of them offer server side programming and databases. With a dynamic site, you're better off paying a bit for it - and it's not really expensive for a small site, the hostimg market has become incredibly saturated, driving down prices.

Can anyone help out?

Yes, quite a few of us on here can. Just ask

Ideally, yes. You can do it without a database, but realisticly speaking, use a database.

This is a short term innitiative, so I'm keen to keep this as simple as possible.

Please let me know your thoughts on how to do it without a database

Thanks for the quick reply
Steven

Well technicly speaking, any way you do it will require a database of some sort - by saying 'without a database' I meant storing the data text or XML Files.

You won't really be saving yourself any trouble by using text/XML files/etc, so you might as well use a database - for a small short term project with <40ish users, Access might be a good solution.