Thanks for the reply kymmy.
This is how I stand at the moment.
Wireless router is connected to switch > connected > router > modem
From the laptop I can connect to net through ethernet (on the lappy now) and I can ping all other computers on our network, so everything is all hunky dorey and its acting as a wired access point.
Changed the IP as you said.
On second router changed the default from gateway to router (as it states in the limited litriture)
laptop can see router throught wireless but wont go through to rest of network and beyond.
Got it sussed at the mo (I hope)
It seems that you need to connect using the Acer Epower thing and also connect to the network using the linksys thingy too.
Alls good at the mo, thanks for the help kymmy