HTML Redirects

I have an HTML redirect file among a fresh install of WP. The redirect points to another live site of mine.

Problem is, when I go to view the site from the Dashboard, the HTML redirect loads, which is a surprise. I would have thought index.php would load by default, but apparently I’m wrong.

I can build and edit content from the Dashboard, but I can’t view the site – it redirects automatically. (I can’t even navigate to http://www.domainname.com/index.php – the redirect loads.)

Maybe developing a site from the root of a domain name isn’t the way to go?

Suggestions?

Should a .htaccess file be employed in this situation? What code would be used and what would it do, exactly?

I’ll keep researching this for a workaround.

Thanks.