From PHP to Windows Apps

My background is web based programing predominately PHP/MySQL.  I currently find myself working on a project that I would like to convert to a windows based application.  There is really no need other than to give a user a choice of what type of application they use.  The things I need to be able to accomplish are:

1: Password protection/user management
2: Database integration
3: Local network access to certain files
4: Remote workstation access on the LAN/Printers
5: Multiple user access to the program but obviously not to the same records/files

I am doing some looking at python right now (no really I have another tab open in my browser) for the first time so I am unsure if this is the solution yet.  I guess my main concern is finding a language that is somewhat similar to what I already know.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

No one has a suggestion?   

Visual C++?