There is no real point in an individual here going all through typing the process when there are thousands of good tutorials already out on the internet. I have provided 3 links below, take a look at those and see how you feel.

If those are not written in a style you are comfortable with the use something like setting up a network in Google or your favourite search engine and find one or 2 written more to your liking.

Then if you run into snags you can come here for guidance on sticky points.

Regarding personal contact. If that happens only you would learn anything, the idea of these forums is that others besides the original poster can learn from the threads that appear here. We do have those who lurk and learn from others problems. Even experienced computer users can benefit from some answers to issues. Have a go at it and good luck. Let us know when you are all set up

Geek Girls on setting up a network
Set up a network tutorial from PC World
Microsoft network tutorial

You would access the Internet in a hotel or other "hot spot" with either a built-in wireless interface card, or if your laptop is an older model, you will need a PC card that can be inserted into a PC slot on your laptop. If yours is new, you undoubtedly have the built-in card. Just turn on your computer and it will detect any usable accounts. I have used mine parked in a campground next to a Holiday Inn Express. LOL!

Nancy (mudlady),
I always carry a network cable with me while traveling since most hotels that have wireless also have wired access. Some hotels give you a password upon check-in and you have to make some changes to your pc to receive wireless. As a note of caution, avoid posting your email address in any open forum.

owbist,

Thanks for the links. I was going to start on the same process next week.

Thanks, folks, for the quick replies and info. I checked the links and think I will be able to learn from them. I believe everything is already set up for me to share files and the original printer. All I have to do is learn how to transfer info from one to another. I do not "intuit" easily the way most people seem to be able to nuts around on a program for a while and figure things out as they go along. I will need to study the links and experiment.

I asked for personal responses because some lists I belong to don't allow straying from a specific topic. Also, I was afraid my ignorance of such basics might be annoying.

Again, thanks for the input.

Mudlady wrote:- I was afraid my ignorance of such basics might be annoying.

Mudlady never be afraid to ask questions, especially with computers. There are no stupid questions, if you do not know and do not ask you can never learn. On this forum it is rare, very rare, that anyohe gets upset with anyone else so ask away.

Nancy, the reason you were cautioned about not posting your real e-mail address on an open forum is that spammers use bot programs to scan the Internet for posted e-mail addresses -- then they use those addresses to send spam. Your mailbox could easily be inundated with porn and spam messages in no time at all.

So, the way to publicly post your e-mail address without worrying about these bots would be to say it is:

comdys at tds dot net

A human will be able to know how to really type your e-mail addy, but a bot won't recognize that as an e-mail address.