Sony ACID Xpress is quite fully featured for a FREEBIE that doesn't require a crack or anything nasty like that.
10 tracks should be more than enough for anyone getting started - and it's an easy to use, intuitive DAW that works like a sampler - you can simply create loops and string them together, or record live stuff over loops, or any permutation.
ACIDplanet.com: Free Downloads: ACID Xpress
NCH software have Mixpad, which is a nice alternative, if you don't like the complex nature of ACID - and it's $60;
Multitrack Music Recording Software - Free Download
Audacity is cool too.