Hello all....need some help... 
  
Searched the forums before posting (I swear) but can't understand exactly what I need to do to get past my problem after trying to install Forge: 
  
I keep getting the message: "you need to run the version 1.8 manually" when trying to install Forge 1.8. 
  
I see posts about that I need to run a "Vanilla Launcher 1.8" first to get it to work....what's a Vanilla launcher? I searched Google and had no luck. 
  
My son is really interested in getting started with modding and I'd love to help him out. Anyone that has a few minutes, could you explain what I need to do to get Forge 1.8 to install? Relatively new here, so please be kind.....and detailed. 
  
Thanks, 
Brad 
  
Win 7 
Minecraft 1.8.1 
Minecraft launcher 1.6.5