I have been recently working on getting an old HP Pavilion a1110y up and running. So far I've managed to hack the registry so my secon-hand copy of Windows XP Pro SP3 is working, and I've also figured out how to manually configure a LAN connection between this PC and my Acer Aspire 5515 (which runs Windows 7).
All in all, not too bad for a knuckle-dragger who still prefers dos 6 and qbasic...
Now, here is where I need the Cemetech gurus... the PC only has an Ethernet port ( no wifi ); the laptop has full wireless access. i want to access the Net from the PC through the laptop's wifi.
6000 ep and a gauntlet of infinity to the one who can figure out this conundrum

That's pretty straightforward:
1. Go to your Aspire 5515 (that's the laptop, right?)'s Network and Sharing center
2. Go to Adapters, ctrl-click on your wireless and wired connections to select them both.
3. Right-click on one of them and choose Bridge Connections.
4. Voila.

Don't forget you will need a modem in-between or a crossover cable to connect them!

That is incorrect on both counts. Modern Ethernet interfaces auto-sense and do not require crossover cables.