Newbie seeking advice on software and learning resources

So here I am looking to dive into this. I have done a breif intro in the relevant section. As stated I dont know where to start .

I have access to an old laptop and a lite version of Ableton and a full version of Reason 3 . I am wondering if I should be looking towards some different software ?

Oh and in terms of books I have a second hand copy of ' The idiots guide to music composition'.

In terms of stuff I like, I quite like dark stuff , such 'Imperial march' from Star Wars, some of the parts of the 'the planets' (by holst I think) and also alot of stuff by David Axelrod who says he studied Walter Piston's Harmony book and also I enjoy Burt Bacharach.

So any tips or advice would be most welcome

Well, try to get the best computer you can, not too fancy but fair, I think Reason is ok, you don't have to install a lot of different softwares if you're going to start, start with what you have.

I don't know that book you mention but doesn't sound very good to me.

You don't mention if you play an instrument ? I think you have to play something in order to find a minimum idea of what you would like to do, or how do those things you mention work, (imperial march) for instance I can tell you is nothing but Gm,Ebm,G,Ebm etc, but if you don't know what is Gm or what is Ebm, then that's where you have to start, if you know that already, try to write something in reason, anything, chords, then listen, then a melody etc...