Hi, I cannot find a forum that answers questions about wordpress. I mean there is the official forum but nobody ever get any answers. The codex is a little complicated to navigate so you guys are my last option I want to build a site that ALSO has a blog. Question 1: How do you make the homepage static ? - no blog posts? Question 2: How do you make the blog posts show up on a different page /blog/ for example? Thanks !!!
In your dashboard go to settings > reading In the 'front page displays' section, select 'static page'. In the drop down boxes, select: Front Page: The page you want to be your homepage Posts Page: The page on which to place your posts.
Not sure if I understand your 2nd question right, but you need to put it in a sub-directory (manual installation). Or if you're using Fantastico name your sub-folder when installing (let Fantastico create the folder), if I remember correctly. When creating the blog with Fantastico leave the sub-folder field blank to install it in the main folder. Or fill in the folder name underneath to create the sub-directory.
I believe it's just on the settings of Wordpress. I provide screenshots in order to make you understand it easily, www.screencast.com/users/Theljoebel/folders/Jing/media/0fb211a7-5b12-4090-b39c-b7e49ae5624e , try this. I hope this may help.
After changing reading settings like what @extrememike mentioned, it should work, but if it does not, then it is your theme. Using Twenty Ten default theme will be much easier. Other themes might require code editing..