Vista - Clueless Newbie needs MASSIVE network advice....

Bought a wireless network card for my daughters computer and so now I am attempting to get my network set up. I THINK the rest of this new computer is ok so now I'm tackling "the network." Where to start..........

Using a Linksys Wireless-G (NetXtreme 57 or Model # WRT54G which ever name describes better).

The original network was set up on my old computer, which runs XP Pro (internet wire from the street into the router, hardwire into the computer). It was basically that computer and my wife's laptop from work. I had it set up so she could use the internet and my printe when she needed to. It is wireless. She got a new computer from work a while ago and while I forgot how to set it up so she could print (which she rags me about all the time lol) it DID automatically detect the signal so she has internet access. Enter my new computer.......

I use an Nvidia 790i Ultra which has an on board network card and runs a program called Network manager. To get internet for this computer I just plugged a hardwire in from the router to my computer. Instant internet. No printer sharing, no setting up or joining the "existing" network, but like my wife's new laptop. i have the net.

I installed the Norton Security Suite 2008 and now it (new computer) seems to be controlling the access to the network even though the old computer is the computer with all the network stuff on it. Also the router has 4 output jacks and the new computer is plugged into jack1 and the old computer in jack4. Does it make a difference which is plugged in where?

Daughters new network card: It's a Linksys wireless G card for laptops. I followed all the instructions and it seems to be in the network, (IE it has LAN connection) but no internet connection. My wife's computer, my daughter's computer, and my old computer all use XP and my new computer uses Vista Ultimate 64. Hope this is enough back ground info. Now on to my questions........

1). Since i basically never had a true "network" would I be better off to wipe the network (IE Linksys software) off my old computer and start from scratch using my new computer as the hub (or whatever the term is for the main computer on a network) and create a true network? It would seem right now that this new computer is already trying to assert control as it is.

2). If I did start from scratch, would I have to connect the printer to my new computer instead of my old computer so all computers could use it? I have no office software on this computer.

3). If I do create a network, will the main computer have to be on at all times for the other computers to connect to the internet? I know it does for them to use the printer, but what about plain old connectivity?

4). If I do change over to my new computer will all the info (IP ect) remain the same or do I need to find new values?

5). Can I even have a network on which 2 computers are wired and two are wireless?

...NM moot point now.

Hi,
What type of Internet connection do you have and what type of router do you use?

Linksys, (it's in the original post), but it doesn't matter anymore. I went to upgrade the firmware and I guess 5 years ago (or whenever) when i got and installed the thing I put a password on it. Since I haven't a clue what the password is, I have to rest the thing to upgrade the firmware which means I have to set it all up again which means I might as well go ahead and do it on my new computer which means I have one hell of a run on sentence here lol.

Thanks anyways. I got the "update firmware" idea on that other thread you were helping with last night I think. I didn't know you could update the routers. now I do, just gotta get hold of my provider so I can get the info I need to set it back up. The original company got bought out last year and AT&T has been screwing us ever since. I'll probably wait until I can providers so I only have to do it once.