OK guys - thanks so much for the feedback to date but you should know that when peeps tell me any problem involving a PC is going to be easily solved I get worrried....very worried
Anyway, just to summarise then. My preferred Luddite solution is OK (just)and I don't need any NTL disc to get my new pc connected to the modem via ethernet.
OK, then a couple more 'simple' questions if I may:
Will I be asked to enter any settings, data, addresses, whatever when I connect the new PC to the modem for the first time and try to access the net? If I will be, what are they and where do I find the information?
Secondly, just to clarify for my simple brain, in order to swap internet access between the two PC's will all that's required be to switch off the modem, unplug the current connection to it (say the usb lead to this PC), plug in the alternative connection (the ethernet lead to the new PC) and switch it all back on again? Bearing in mind you guys are all to be found here, I really don't want to get stuck in no-man's land and find mysef unable to access the net at all because I've done something stupid and don't know how to fix it.
Don't suppose you guys have a free, non web based, 24/7, "get Luddites out of bother" support service do you ???
Ps there's a round of virtual pints behind the bar for you all