What do I need to start writing (and running/executing) programs??

Here is the express (Free!) version of Visual C++, Microsoft's own compiler:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/

C++ has somethong of a "learning curve". If you have absolutely no programming experience, starting off might be difficult. (Simply, C++ gives you more control over the lower levels of a running program... which is great, but adds a lot of confusion if you are at the level were you want to just learn syntax.)

Generally, schools and universities start out teaching VB, regular C, or Java. Java has a syntax similar to C++, but works on a higher level... it does compile binaries, but those binaries are run by the Java Virtual Machine, which handles all the low level problems.

http://java.sun.com/javase/

I bought a book at borders, and it came with the editor/ complier. This is the complier and whatever that im using, it works i've written a few programs.

http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

You need a C/C++ Compiler. you can try http://www.bloodshed.net/dev/devcpp.html

you may also want a debugger.

you can download and use turbo explorer for free.

http://www.turboexplorer.com/

you can get free license for it from http://www.borland.com/