No Idea About Weight Lifting

Read a book like New Rules of Lifting for Women, Starting Strength or Strong Lifts (available online). Many people here recommend free weights over machines because they work more muscles, including stabilizer and cores muscles, then a muscle isolation exercise. If the machines are intimidating you, and you have access to dumbbells and barbells, those may be less scary.

Consider consulting with a well-qualified personal trainer for a few sessions to help you learn proper technique and get you comfortable. Watch lots of youtube videos on correct posture and browse the forums for advice.

Agreeing with the other poster, personally I like free weights better because lord knows where your knees and elbows and such and such go in weight machines. Heaven forbid you put a limb out of place and whack it off altogether.

Anywho...

New Rules is a great starting point as is bodybuilding.com. There are also a boatload of helpful videos on youtube. And last but not least, don't hesitate to bother the experienced folks on mfp! Shucks I bug the bajeezus out of my FL, but nixing your pride and asking for help is the best thing to do starting out. You could also talk to the trainers at whatever gym you go to. I found it particularly helpful having someone right there to correct my form the first time I tried compound lifts.

Best of luck OP :flowerforyou:

I much prefer free weights and cable machines. Those fixed machines are isolation movements that don't work your stabilizing muscles, and they can really screw you up if you're not aligned correctly.

Most gyms will give you a free orientation session with a trainer - see if you can sign up for one of these. You'll get an hour of someone showing you exercises for your goals. If you're new to lifting, I'd really recommend a couple of sessions with a trainer or going with a friend who knows something about lifting so you can get your form right - having bad form is how you hurt yourself, and you don't want that!