sharepoint designer: web server error: cannot create web

Thursday Morn

Vista Business, all updates

I open Sharepoint Designer 2007, I attempt to create a general, empty web.

First error was: No Web Server on port 80

I check the IIS manager: the server is running.

I can use IE to load Http://localhost

So I try to create the empty website again This time a different error:

Unable to open website. Possible causes:
1. The web server may not have the Frontpage server extension installed
2. the web server may be temporily out of service
3. proxy server setting may be incorrect
4 an error may have occurred in the web server


I then create a virtural folder using IIS: added to
C:\inetpub\wwwroot\newweb. OK.

I then attempt to open it in Designer and I get a message telling me windows
cannot find the web at this address.

Same result in Expression Web.

This is stupid.

I need some help.

Jesse