just to clarify you said the vista laptop now recognizes the connection for the network but will not connect to it, did you select your network from the network list and enter your passphrase info into the box so that it has permission to access your network? What steps exactly have you done to try to get it to connect? When you see the networks list how is your network rated? how many green bars? does it say the correct name for your network? what security rating does it give for your network? You have turned on the wireless on the laptop? are all of your workgroups named the same on all your computers, are your passwords correct? Lets check this stuff just for the off chance it may make a difference here. The first thing you'll want to do is ensure that your PCs all have the same Workgroup name. If you kept the default from Windows XP, your workgroup is called MSHOME. In Vista, the default is WORKGROUP. If you want to view and edit the computer details on each PC to rename your workgroup, you can access this from the main "Vista Welcome Center" screen by choosing the first option "View Computer Details" and select "Show More". This will quickly bring up the Computer Name tab. Here you want to name your PC (this is what it will show up as on the network) and also change your workgroup name. You will need to use the same Workgroup name on each PC that you want to enable file sharing with. Have you tried a full shut down of all items involved in the proper shut down and restart method? Turn off all computers (I go so far as to unplug the power cord too), disconnect power from router and modem each individually, let set for several minutes, then power up the modem first, let it get fully initialized all green lights, then power up the router again let it get fully initialized and lit up, next power up your desktop fully, then laptop. See if you get connected with all computers. do not rush let it take time so that they can renew and establish the new info for the connection. Often times this is the magic pill so if you have not done this by all means do it now. also check this: "In Windows Vista Home Premium, you have two options for Network Location: Public and Private, and you must choose the Network Location the first time you connect your PC to the network. The network location is what determines your Microsoft Vista firewall settings. * Public: If you're connecting to a network in a public place, for example a coffee shop or airport, you'll choose a Public location type. Choosing public will limit discovery of other computers and is designed to keep your computer from being visible to others on the network. Public offers the most security. * Private: Private networks is what you will need to select for home, small office or work networks. Choosing private will automatically configure the firewall settings to allow for communication. " try following this guide step by step also see if something shows up that you may have missed. Windows Vista Tip

Actually, there's no reason to disable the NAT on the Belkin in the second scenario. I have a modem/router with a single connection. When I first got it, I used a hub, then when the price of switches dropped, I went with a switch. I later connected a router without disabling its router capabilities. The reason I didn't is that the modem/router doesn't have any firewall capabilities (unless you consider NAT to be a firewall of sorts, but I don't). The router I have has firewall capabilities, but only when used as a router. The modem/router for my DSL assigns addresses in the 10.0.0.2 to 10.0.0.255 range (it uses 10.0.0.1). So the modem/router has an external IP assigned by my ISP. The new router has an external IP of 10.0.0.2 assigned by the modem/router. I configured it to assign IPs in the 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.255 range.

Thanks for the info. I'm still not real clear what I have and what I need, however. I looked up my device manager in my new computer and found Marvell Yukon 88E8039 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller. Is this the ethernet connection on the back of the computer or something else? If I do not have WIFI capability and it would take returning my computer to the geek squad to have a card installed, would USB adapter not work instead? Is it your opinion that this is not reliable or exceptable? The laptop is WIFI ready so it is not a problem for that computer. Is there anything else other than the router that I would need for the laptop? On a related note, would it make more sense for me to hard wire all of the stationary computers(hence running ethernet wires all over) and just setting the laptop up for wireless? I appreciate the time you have taken to educate me! Its been a while since I have taken time to read up on technology and now I'm in a time crunch.

There are printing apps available that will allow you to print to any printer.