Here are some basic steps to follow to get started (for the Windows user; linux users and Mac users can talk to me in my office). First, download all the files below and put them in a folder called latex, say, on your desktop. I suggest keeping all your homework files in this same folder. Next, run the basic-miktex-2.7.3248.exe file. Follow the instructions and you should have MiKTeX installed. I suggest letting the installer do what it wants to do and put things where it thinks they should be. You need to be on the internet for the installer to work as it will grab the necessary files off the internet. This could take some time (maybe as much as 2 hrs depending on your connection speed). So, go grab a cup of coffee...
Next, run the TXCSetup_1StableRC1.exe file. Again as with MiKTeX, I suggest letting the TeXnicCenter installer do what it wants to do and put things where it thinks they should be. Now that a few hours have passed, you are almost ready to compile your first file! A desktop icon which starts TeXnicCener should have been created. You can start it with the icon or by going to your programs list. Now we need to get TeXnicCenter to talk nicely to MiKTeX. Run TeXnicCenter and you should see a box called Tip of the day. Close it, or read it if you like. Next a configuration wizard will pop up. Click next. It wants the full path to where your MiKTeX executables are. Click on the button to the right to browse for the path. The path you choose depends on where you told MiKTeX to put things. If you let MiKTeX do what it wanted to do, you should be able to browse to the following path C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\miktex\bin or simply type it in the box. Now click next again. You can ignore the next box as it is all optional. Click next again. Then click finish.
Now you can open up your first LaTeX file and try to compile it. Try to open up the homework template file you downloaded earlier. Now try to compile it by clicking on the the drop down box which has something like LaTeX - dVI in it. Change it to LaTeX - PDF (note you need to have adobe reader installed which is freely available on the internet). Now click on the "build current file" button just to the right of the drop down box. It looks like three sheets of paper on top of one another with an arrow pointing down. This should build the file for you. Now since this is the first time you have tried to build a file, MiKTeX will ask you to install some missing packages. (Note: This is because we installed the basic version.) Allow MiKTeX to install any missing packages (like "fancyhdr") and be patient. When TeXnicCenter is done compiling it will say something like "LaTeX-Result: O Error(s), ..." near the bottom. Now click on the "view output" button, it looks like a magnifying glass over a sheet of paper. This should bring up a pdf file. CONGRATS! You have compiled you first LaTeX file.
It might be useful to have TeXnicCenter add line numbers so that when you do find an error you can figure out where it is at. Go to "Tools" "Options" "Editor" and check the box to put line numbers in.
If you are having problems, please be patient and read over the steps again. If you are using something other than Windows XP, things maybe slightly different. If you are using a laptop, bring it to my office and we should be able to figure it out. If you are trying to install this on a home desktop, I'm willing to make house calls. But before it comes to that please describe any problems you are having in an email and maybe I can help via email first. If you can get everything installed but are having trouble compiling your own code, send me your tex file as an attachment and I'll help you find your errors.