Plug and play does not alway work

So today, got a simpleshare machine (a shareable 250gig storage for 2 or more computers, neat item to have if you have 2 or more computers).
About time, since this has been almost a month getting here (had to wait for more to be made).
And I am ready to get it hooked up!
But found out real quick, one minor problem my son forgot to mention when he told me to get this...a router!
So I was on a mission....off to wallyworld!
Where they sell nothing but wireless routers now! I found out.
But they did have one (as the young salewoman called it) old router for those who are not yet wireless...that's me!
Got home and started to hook it up.
Directions very easy, plug in, go to our website to set router dns, etc and you are in business.
Pshaw I say!
Off the net it threw me, took me some time to find out why I could not get on the net...something the router threw in about DCHB (I think that is it).
Removed that and here I am, back on the net.
Later, after supper, will peruse that router more carefully and my dsl modem to see if they will play together if I again plug them up.

Ah, the joys of having a computer, two computers, heck 4 computers!
Think the oldest two are win95 machines! One is win98, one is winxp pro, and this is winxp media.