How to connect new laptop to home network (details inside) ?

We have a home network running through hubs and an internet connection shared between 6 PCs all running Windows XP.
I want to connect my husband's new laptop ( running Vista basic) to the network.
So far we have internet connectivity through the hubs but it will not recognise the other PCs on the network.
Need detailed help please.

What is a VPN?

VPN is (Virtual Private Network) were first used by companies to enable their employees to securely access internal systems such as email remotely (e.g. from home or while on business trips). Today they are increasingly being used for personal use by individuals to protect their privacy while online in public places (e.g. when using the wi-fi connection in a cafe) or in a country where the internet is censored / blocked (e.g. China, Saudi Arabia��).