A MiKTex resource site:

MiKTeX is a LaTeX compiler (and more) for the PC and more importantly, it is free.  I am in the process of adding everything that a MiKTeX fledgling (I am included here) might need to set this up on a PC.

1.  Stuff that needs to be downloaded:

• MiKTeX V. 1.20:  Basically, this site contains everything you need to download to install MiKTeX.
• WinEdt32:  In order to run MiKTeX, you need to install a shell, or an editor.  This one was recommended as an excellent shell on several sites and the one currently installed on my PC.  It seems to be everything that you would want in a shell, but I have nothing to compare it to...it was the first one that I downloaded.  There are plenty of other shells out there and can be found by going to the MiKTeX page listed above.
• Ghostview:   This program isn't necessary unless you do not have a postscript printer and want to print your documents.

3.  Considering I am not an expert on configuring MiKTeX, I will leave that up to you.  Read the documentation on the MiKTeX site.  Although I found several problems with the documentation, I would not have made it through the installation and configuration without this as a guide!

4.  Have fun!  I hope that it takes you less time than it took me to get MiKTeX up and running on your PC!