Free website software

[AdrianTCW]

You can get a trial version of DreamWeaver which is pretty handy, but don't turn your nose up at open source tools.

Filezilla is brilliant for uploading files to your website.
Notepad++ is also excellent for editing HTML, better than using standard MS notepad as it is specifically designed for HTML and will highlight all the right things and show you broken code.

[PrismTechWales]

Notepad++ is my weapon of choice when doing straight html or css. Visual Studio for any real coding. If you are looking to get a site online quickly and easily try one of the free online services wix, weebly etc. Even Microsoft small business online lets you build a free website. Just had a quick play with weebly and its very very easy.

[Punched]

Notepad++ is my weapon of choice when doing straight html or css. .

I'll second that,
Sometimes when you need to edit a line of code and it reads Edit line 345, instead of counting all the lines in Notepad, With Notepad++ all the lines are numbered!!

Great Freebie too!!

[Paragon]

Free e-commerce / online shop (limited products) but would make a good starter for someone testing the water
http://www.internetretailer.biz/sell-prices.aspx

[Richardvc]

Wordpess or Joomla for me, had so much success with it I would not consider anything else.

Richard