Incorporating a forum into a website

[BillP]

I signed up last week for a bluehost website. I thought the tools to build a simple website would be obvious, but they are not (to me). My simple design includes a set of static pages with reference documents (mostly pdf's) and html pages, plus a discussion forum that relates to the reference pages.

I have now downloaded every simplescript program and BB program on the bluehost website. In some of them, I could simply create my menu system, others I could simply add pages, most did not include the discussion forum module/plug-in and did not give me directions on how to do it, but none of them seemed to show me how to do it all. My question for this forum is: "What package do you recommend for a VERY simple website that includes a discussion forum? and do you download the forum package (say phpBB) separately or as part of the website builder (CMS)?"

[Early Out]

Website creation packages virtually never include some sort of forum plugin. Forum software stands on its own. The expectation is that you would install the forum on a subdirectory of your site, and then just link to it from your other pages.

[BillP]

That's what I thought when I started. However, when I installed phpBB, it took over the home page. When I installed c5 (for example), it took over the home page and there were no instructions on how to link to the phpBB package located somewhere on the bluehost servers. I asked the question on the c5 forum and got no response. I am still looking for that "simple" solution.

[Early Out]

You just need to install the forum in a subdirectory, like example.com/forum.

[BillP]

OK, I'll start from scratch. Is there any way to restore my root directory? I have installed and uninstalled so many packages that it appears there are some leftovers under my root. What are the "standard" directories that are created when an account is started?

[farcaster]

I believe that if you contact BlueHost on their home page and get them through Live Chat, they are able to "reset" your setup. This means you lose everything you have done to date, but it gives you a fresh starting point.

[EricJ]

Yeah, it's called a Nuke.. it deletes EVERYTHING!!!!!, but any rep will do it for you..

Everything includes:
SSL certs.
Emails
Email Accounts
FTP Accounts
MySQL databases
PostgreSQL databases
All files in and below your home directory..
and everything else i might have missed :).

After all is deleted it copies in the files it uses for a new account setup.