I'm an older one here. Have used Mircrosoft for nearly 15 years and am on my third computer. I use word perfect, can type my own stuff and copy it. Love my printer the most, have had an HP for nearly 5 years with no problems. If your Mom is a "stuff junkie" as I am, she would love it. I have a list of favorites that is a mile long, and saved E-mails that will envy the museum's. I use it for my garden stuff and my crafts and knitting and other needlework. I'm a "crafty" person so use my computer alot. Also, look up poetry, songs, formulas,recipes,genealogy, etc. Hope she enjoys whatever you deceide is right for her. I also have a lap top that I don't use very often, I got it to use if and when we travel. If I have a problem my supplier has a "help line" and is always available or I just phone one of my Grandkids. My E-mails are a fun site for me as well. as Facebook, etc.

So when you set the printer up to the big computer you no doubt followed the HP instructions. Did you do the same when installing the drivers for the printer on the laptop? Remember with HP you do not connect the printer until you are told to do so during the installing process for the drivers. Once completed the computer/printer invite you to print a test page, how did that go?

good for you! yes it is extremely important to keep check on all the things that need updating not just windows updates many of those items leave you very vulnerable to intrusion. I like to use the Secunia tool to help determine what needs updating. Secunia Online Software Inspector (OSI) I agree the teams on the support forums are awesome folks.

I am going to guess the black box you mention is either a router or a modern. Un plug the power from the back of it, if you have a second box that might be a router if the other is a modem, un plug the power from the back of it to, totally shut down the computer, let it be for 5 minutes or so, then plug the power back into the modem let it be so all the lights can get set, if you have a router go ahead and plug the power into the back of it, let those lights get set, then turn on the computer, boot it up and see if that helps. Usually it does help to do a power down, then power up in the proper sequence. You really need to give us more information to go on here, which version of windows you have, are you using cable, dsl, dialup or what to connect to the Internet.