From Kim Komando's website:

With each passing generation, history is made but not often recorded. I recently found names and birthdates scribbled in an old family bible. Today, there's no good reason to not document a family's legacy.

A good place to start the search is at Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites (http://www.cyndislist.com). This is a simply massive site with more than 143,000 links to all things genealogical.
For instance, if you're just starting, Cyndi's List has 46 links to beginners' sites. You won't need to look at all 46, because much of the information is redundant. After going through a dozen, you'll have a good idea of how to start.
Cyndi's List also includes 178 databases. Some are free; others require payment. They include a wide range of subjects. For instance, there are seven immigration/emigration databases, seven containing land records, 10 for marriages, and many for military personnel. You could spend all of your time here.
But don't. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers its records online at FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org). The Mormons have done a vast amount of genealogical work. This site includes many databases. Its step-by-step search process and online tutorials are terrific.

Another good search site is Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com). This site also includes huge databases. It charges for access to most of its information. Subscriptions run from $29.95 to $189.95, depending on the level of access desired.

More specialized databases also are available online. The JewishGen Family Finder (http://www.jewishgen.org/jgff) is a database of Jewish names currently being researched. The United States Internet Genealogical Society's Military Collection (http://www.usigs.org/library/military/index.htm) contains name, rank and hometown for soldiers in specific outfits. For immigration records, one of the best resources is the online records of Ellis Island (http://www.ellisislandrecords.org).

Once you start collecting information on individuals, you'll need software. There are a number of software packages that include huge databases. These are often culled from military and court records. Other sources also provide records.
But you don't have to buy software. There is free software on the Web. It might well satisfy your needs, at least initially. For instance, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers freeware on its site.
Cyndi's List includes a long list of genealogical programs. Most of them are shareware. These programs are downloaded over the Internet. You can try them before buying them.

Perhaps the most popular packaged program is Family Tree Maker, from Genealogy.com (http://www.genealogy.com). The program costs $29.99. Prices range up to $99.99 with subscriptions to various publications. A free demonstration version is available.

Another possibility is The Master Genealogist by Wholly Genes (http://www.whollygenes.com). This $79 program was issued in May. The previous version received mixed reviews. People who are deeply into genealogy loved it for its features. Others complained that its Windows 3.1 features were badly out of date.

Cumberland Family Software (http://www.cf-software.com) is $45 and includes a 45-day free trial. Users can create a family book with this program. Events are entered for individuals and the program automatically puts them in story form.

A word of caution: Many people post their family trees online. Be sure that your family members agree to have it posted on the Internet. Many people have deep concerns about identity and other types of theft. And they are not being paranoid.
Mothers' maiden names, for instance, often are used to access passwords and bank or credit card account information. Some people may not want this information disclosed. Even if it's on a hidden page within a Web site, it's not safe from disclosure.
Search sites like Google.com that comb the Web sometimes find hidden pages. Once in the search site's database, a hidden page may subsequently be listed in a user's search results page.

Updated: February 20, 2003