these are the steps as listed on ehow Share Your Printer in Windows Step1 Install the printer. Set up the printer as normal on a machine that is already connected to the wireless network. Connect all necessary cables and install all necessary drivers. Step2 Open the printers and faxes folder. Click "Start," then "Control Panel," then "Printers and Other Hardware" and then "Printers and Faxes." Step3 Share your printer. Find the icon for the printer you just installed. Click the icon once and then select SHARE THIS PRINTER in the tasks pane on the left. Now, right click the icon, select properties and go to the SHARING tab. Click "Share Name," and then click "Okay." Step4 Connect to the printer. On the other computers within the network, open the control panel and click "Printers and Other Hardware." Select "Add a Printer." Step5 Select "Printer Connection." When prompted, select this option instead of the local printer. Find and select the printer you just installed and select it. Step6 Print as normal. Next time you print a page, send it to your networked printer. (you may need to reboot both computers after setup) This is also a good tutorial Beginners Guides: Printer Sharing on a Home Network you should also check to see if you have all the computers set up with the same workgroup name. "Workgroup name: This is the name of your network if you like. By default Windows XP will call your workgroup MSHOME, but you can change this as long as all the PCs on your network have the same workgroup name. (To see the computers in your network, click My Computer and choose Network Places from the bar on the left side. From there click View Workgroup Computers.)" (Control Panel > Performance & Maintenance > See basic information about your computer. From there click on Computer Name. Your workgroup is displayed.)

first thing to always try is to power down everything the pcs, the router the modem pull the power on all of them then start up in this specific order after about a 5 min rest, power to the modem let it get fully lit up, then power to the router let it get fully lit up then power to your various computers. See if that helps very often it does. You might try doing it with the laptop near the router then move it where you want it to see if it keeps the signal. Also you may have to re-enter your passcode to your wireless network again in that laptop it may not have kept it if it has been off a long time.

follow the directions given with the router you do not change any cords till the cd tells you to take that step. Leave your desktop as you have had it, put the cd in the desktop cd drawer, run the cd follow the instructions it will tell you and show you exactly how and when to change the cords it will lead you through step by step, READ the instruction pamphlet that came with it that tells you what the cd does. When it tells you to set up a password for the router do it and write it down then tape that to the bottom of your router along with the name you give the SSID for your wireless network, you will at some point have to select to choose WPA2 for your method of security it is generally set there default, then it will give you a long WPA password you can accept that or create your own just keep that one it is more secure than one you create, be very very sure you write it down as it is caps and lower case and put that on the paper under the router. That is the key anyone in your house that wants to get on the wireless will need to enter into their laptop to connect, so that laptop will detect the wireless and then will ask for the password that is the one you just saved so you will enter that into the box and then it should connect if all is correct. On my linksys it asked during the set up if I wanted to print out all that info and yes I did and it also asked if you want to put a text file on your desktop with the info sure let it do that too you can delete it at any time if you no longer need it. Just take it one step at a time do not change anything till you have the cd in the machine and it tells you to. depending on the router you bought you can go to the company website and look up the model number and they all have a pdf manual on line with directions and pictures also. If you tell us which router you got someone might know more specifics of that particular one.

Higgins: I'm glad you like CCCleaner. I feel better about using it than IOBIT, as I used it more than once several years ago. It has probably changed in the meantime, but will probably feel somewhat familiar. Yes, I understand that I can only stop things from starting up when I uncheck them in msconfig. There are times when that is necessary--from my point of view, if not that of the developers. Bugspop: Hopefully, hubby and I will not be dealing with Windows 10 until it is unavoidable in 2020, but knowing the evil day will inevitably come (I hate the colors and prefer icons to the rectangles in the "metro" look. [I realize they are not calling it that anymore, but don't know what adjective to use.]); so I have been collecting hints and articles on managing Win10. Your hint will be useful. Thanks!