I have heard and read similar arguments about DNN many times since becoming an active participant in the use of ASP.NET and DNN.  One of the great things about technical problems that you are unfamiliar with is the fact that it causes you to learn.  I know a great deal more about DNN now than when I first started using it early this year/late last year.

I had huge problems the first time I installed DNN, but searched and searched and retried and retried, and finally it paid off.  Now I have designed several web sites, a few of them corporate, a corporate Intranet, and I am slowly gaining credibility and customers.  Still being somewhat new around here, I must say that even though there is a learning curve involved initially (which people should expect, not complain about), it is well worth it.

Don't give up!  READ the documentation.  No, really.... read it.  Here are some things to get you started:  They have pictures so it should be easy reading.  ;-)

http://forums.asp.net/p/937685/1114393.aspx#1114393

http://forums.asp.net/p/940392/1123229.aspx#1123229

Actually, there is a huge documentation package (called "Docs") available. It's listed on the download page alongside every version of DNN (except DNN 4.6.2 -- now I wonder why that is, are there too many changes to continue with the old set of docs?). This package contains just about anything from an installation guide to a skinning guide to a guide on how to develop your own modules. The installation guide is pretty detailed, telling you exactly which version (Install, source, upgrade...) to use for what kind of setup, how to set your IIS and database etc. Besides, there are a ton of tutorials out there on how to install DNN in various environments.

Now, a great idea would be to post the docs in a place where it is really easy to find, and a sticky at the top of the "Install It" forum would also be great. Maybe a moderator can do that... Maybe even separate out the various docs and place as stickies them in their respective forums, rather than having them all in one huge package, the majority of which is irrelevant to the majority of people...

Vera