Adjusting a home network, questions...

Hi,

 

I need to adjust a home network.  We have had it set up for 2 years...with a desktop Gateway computer, and a laptop Inspiron 8200 with an Epson printer.  We have a Comcast cable modem and a Dell router.

 

We have added another laptop recently.  An IBM thinkpad.  I want to take the Desktop off the network and dispose of it and just keep the laptops.  I worked with a phone tech from Dell yesterday to connect the two laptops to the cable modem and router and now they are both up and running wireless.  The desktop is sitting like a paperweight on the desk and the printer is unplugged and unusable.

 

My questions are:

 

First, I want to use the printer with the laptops and don't know how to do that without the desktop.

Second, I want to take everything off the desktop before disposing of it and don't know how to do that either.

Third, I want to protect my network from the internet..firewall or something...and not sure whether to do that because I have heard stories of the problems in using the laptops I could create by installing a firewall, or if there is some other way to manage it.

 

 

Can anyone direct me to the right information or explain to me what I need to do to accomplish those three things?

 

Thanks,

Adam