Creating home network, setup questions

Hello.

We have just bought a new computer and I would like to setup a home network
with our two windows XP home edition service pack 3 computers and the new
windows vista service pack 1 Home Premium. At least, I think I want a home
network.

I want to be able to access files on the harddrive of one of the xp machines
from the other two machines. Any additional sharing is fine, but my main
goal is being able to access files on that one machine from the two others.
(Also, to save files to the one machine from the two others.)

First question: Given that goal, is a home network only / best way to go?

I set up a home network a few years back between the xp computers but did
not reestablish after we moved to our current home.

I began to prepare by looking over this information:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/wired.mspx

Second question is: Is the router shown in the "Connect multiple computers
to the internet" section required when the modem provided by ISP is both
modem and router?

Is it possible that the modem for my ISP is in the main box where the cables
enter the home? The box I have in my office that was provided by my ISP is a
D-link wireless router DI-624.

See here:
http://support.dlink.com/products/view.asp?productid=DI-624_revC

Third question: One of the xp machines has norton, the other xp machine has
avast. The vista machine will likely have avast as well. I believe I am
confused about the discussion around antivirus software settings and firewall
settings. Does anything need be done to norton or avast to make this work?

I should mention that poking around here I found a link to this article:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

Thanks.

.

Relevant Pages

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