Cable into the cable modem.
Short length of CAT5 from the cable modem ethernet port to the WAN port on the Linksys.
Appropriate length CAT5 cables from the LAN ports on the Linksys to the NIC's on the PC's, and your layer 1 connections are done. (don't forget proper ventilation and power)
Set up your PC's for DHCP and your layer 2 & 3 connections are done. (The Linksys defaults as a DHCP server for your LAN, and will request an IP addx from the cableCo DHCP server. The Linksys will NAT between your network and the cableCo network)
Set a hard encryption password such as Arm@l1t3, Bu$hm@st3r, or C0!t,[;D] on the Linksys to keep the riff raff out.
Then hold on to your hat 'cause both of those 'puters will be fly'n off the backbone, through the switch, nothing but net!
The recommendations to go to Win2kPro are very good ones indeed!