File sharing between win7 64 bit desktop & vista 32bit laptop

You're actually talking about 2 different problems. You want to want to share a printer and files with the computers on your network AND you want the network to have a connection to the internet, preferably using the free wifi. Your network should be independent of your internet connection in that if you have no internet connection the machines on your network can still talk to each other.

I would worry first about getting your network setup so that the computers can see each other and can share files and the printer. Once that is working reliably, then I would worry about connecting to the internet via the free wifi.

I'm not clear on where the free wifi is coming from but I know that I personally wouldn't want to rely on the free wifi hotspots I've encountered and would much prefer my own connection to the internet as then I have more control over it.

sibbil To clarify, the box from the cable company is NOT a router like my son says, I remember when the cable company hooked it up they asked me if I wanted to rent one of their routers, I said no I have my own, so it is my own router that is hooked up and when I change networks from the cable co one to the free WIFI it is using the same wireless router that I own which is a D-Link about 3 1/2 yrs old. Before I moved into this apt complex I had DSL and was able to hook up to net with both my old desktop which was xp & the current laptop that I have & share files.

strollin the free WIFI I'm told is a private network that comes from the same cable co. I have for my internet. From what I see online there are very few people on it just about 5 printers & scanners. The apt complex is owned by a Lutheran foundation which owns I think 5 or 6 building complexes in this city. Most are assisted living or handicapped buildings, I think only 3 are apt complexes.
I'm confused with what you have said
"Your network should be independent of your internet connection in that if you have no internet connection the machines on your network can still talk to each other." How can I view this without an internet connection?

Before there was the internet, there was networking. You don't need an internet connection to be able to share files/printer on a network. That's why I am advising you to get your network all setup first, including sharing of your printer, then worry about getting an internet connection for your network.

In order for your current router to be able to connect to the free wifi and share that connection with the other computers on your network, you will need to configure it as a "wireless bridge". Here's an article that talks about it: http://http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-turn-an-old-router-into-a-wireless-bridge/ The article says that you need 2 routers but you only need to use one, the other router is the one that belongs to the free wifi that you want to connect to.

If you view the picture of the network setup in the article, the free wifi would be what is labeled as the "Main network" with internet connection. Your computers and printer will be connected to your router which will then be used to "bridge" to the "main network".

I don't understand the question. What does the internet have to do with viewing pc's & files? Internet access allows you to access internet content such as web pages but has nothing to do with viewing other pc's, files or printers on your local network.

PinkRose, what strollin is saying is that you have all the equipment in your apartment that you need to get your PCs and printers talking to each other whether or not you have internet service. So the first problem you have/had is getting that part solved (getting this communication between your own devices working properly -- in other words: getting your own little private network set up properly). As long as your router is up and running (and connected to your PCs) your little network should work properly even if your internet service is out. For this part I would complete going through the links that seavixen32 had posted here: File sharing between win7 64 bit desktop & vista 32bit laptop

The second problem strollin refers to is really secondary: connecting your own little private network to an internet service. You'll notice that there is a wire that comes from the cable modem (the box the cable company gave you) and goes to a "special port" on your D-Link router. As long as the cable modem is powered up and connected you have your internet service (that you typically pay for by the month) available to your little private network. Your D-Link router's job is to join all your PCs/printers together to form your little private network, give your little network internet access via that "special port", and help to protect your little network from various attacks from the internet.

So your second problem is really just the question: "What internet service do I want to connect to that "special port" on my D-Link router?" You can continue with monthly cable internet service via the cable modem the cable company installed, or try that free WiFi.

I don't know how much you pay for monthly internet service, but for me, I would save a lot of money with the free service. I also kind of assume you're really already "paying" for this "free" Wifi service in some way. Maybe the cost is shared among all the people paying rent in the complex. If that free service was 99%+ available (or at least have similar uptime as compared to cable) and the speeds were adequate, I would try to go free.