How to calibrate my monitor?

I am sure there are plenty of threads that discuss this, but I cannot get the search forums funtion to work.  Every time I enter a question, there is no button to click to search so I hit enter and I'm redirected to the forum menu.  If someone can just tell me what I'm doing wrong or what the issue is, I'll eagerly search the forums rather than re-posting a question I'm sure has been asked a hundred times.

If someone could provide a link to an existing thread or answer this question again, I would greatly appreciate it.

I posted another question regarding differences between my Nikon D600 LCD and how photos appear on my laptop when viewed in ViewNX 2.  I am still awaiting an answer to get some advice on whether it's my camera settings or my monitor calibration, but I figure, in the meantime, it can't hurt to calibrate my monitor.  I would love advice on how to do this and what program to use and the simpler the language in the explanation, the better.  I am very new and have a lot to learn.

I believe the computer I'm using now is a Dell Inspiron N4110 ...at least that's what it says on the tag at the bottom.  If someone needs more info on it, if you can tell me where to find it, I'd be happy to provide it.  I'm going to be upgrading to an iMac, but until then, this is what I've got to work with and I'd like to see if I can get my pictures looking like what they look like on my camera's LCD ...or at least looking better than they already do.  Right now, colors just look dull and there's a gray, gloomy tinge over the whole photo.

I'm sorry for asking this question once again, but I can't figure out how to search for it.