domain forwarding, addy bar, hosting, HELP!!!

I'm a huge beginner so bear with me.
My server is running windows xp and apache. My domain is registered through yahoo. The only way I could figure out to get my domain to my server is by forwarding it to my ip address. However when I do that in the address bar it reads my ip # and not my domain name. How do I get this change to my domain name?
My friend also has a domain name (registered at yahoo) they would like to host on my server, but because the only way I know how to how get it to my server is by forwarding it to the ip addy, I can't get it to work. (both address are being sent to the same ip# and not being sent to my sever by a name)
Thanks
Deanna

you should really get your own domain. it should be at about 50ct/month by now!

a workaround could be using a frameset with a single frame, then you have the address of the frameset in the location bar, but another content in the frame.

I do have my own domain. It is registered through yahoo. I think I am two big of a newbie right now to run my own dns server so I thought maybe there was a different way of forwarding it to my server so it doesn't just go to the ip addy. Yahoo has something called an A card forwarding, but you need a host name. You fill in something like: hostname.domain-name.com can be found at fill in ip addy. Is there a way to assign my server a host name? Or would my ISP be the host. I'm so confused!!!!

Deanna

ok, to clear your confusion:
you don´t need your own dns server for having your own domain, you just need to register it at any ISP.

DNS works like this:
browser requests "www.yourdomain.com". browser asks dns server "what is the ip of www.yourdomain.com" and then connects to this ip.

so you only need a DNS name registered and pointing to your IP to have a "real internet site".

i cannot tell you details about yahoo, but it seems to me like you should try to get your domain from another provider.
maybe yahoo doesn´t like you to only register domains with them and then running your own server? (maybe because they place ads on your page if it runs on their server?)



both ways are possible. its the internet, everything is possible you just need an ISP that does the registration for you. anyway you better go with an isp where you can call on the phone and they can make changes for you and answer your questions...