connecting a laptop, computer & 2 USB devices into a network

DDD

i want to create a network in which i can easily send files between a laptop
& computer & access peripherals.

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1) First of all is it possible to send files to a computer on a network when
one of the PC's is turned off?
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I have one laptop running 32bit vista home premium which has a wireless
network card (& i dont move it around that often)

i have a desktop computer with 32bit vista home premium which does not have
a wireless network hard drive

i have a USB printer (old) installed on the computer (want in network)

i have a 500GB external hard drive that can connect to both computer &
laptop via USB (want in network)

i have a wireless router & modem (& other stuff needed to connect to the
internet)
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2) i was wandering how do i connect theses computers & peripherals together
so that i can access files (edit open delete) & have accessed to peripherals
that are connected to the other PC.
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3) Is it possible to have a network in which my laptop can still make use of
its wireless network card so that i DONT have to attach an ethernet cable or
something to it
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(Both PC's are already connected to internet by the way)
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4) what is a hybrid network & could i use this
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Any step by step guides would be great.