help with controlling a motor?

I really just need to make a computer running windows, be able to start and stop a motor
connected to a chain, and receive info from switches (on-off) for feedback from the
movement the motor has done to the chain. but I'm stuck because i've never done such a
thing. so i'm guessing you use the serial port, with that in mind, do i need to get like a PIC
controller and figure out all that to make a device between the computer and the motor/
switches or can i splice a serial wire in someway that it can do all of that? (10 physical
switches + 1 motor)

any help you could give would be great,