1.) Will my college internet connection let me host a webpage on a server running in my dorm room? 2.) What about Windows XP Advanced Server Edition 2003 (I just happen to have a copy of it).... can I use a program to host a webpage on that? 3.) If I buy a domain name how do I go about using that domain on my web-server (regardless of how its set up)

Its not so much a matter of your college caring, as it is that you wont have a static ip address. You can still purchase a domain, but you will have to go through dyndns.org(I think thats the name). I've never used their services before, so I'm not entirely sure how it works.. but to the best of my knowledge, you will have a script running on your server that updates dydns's name server every time your ip address changes. You may have to find out if your behind a firewall as well.. thats the other concern. Good Luck!