Connecting a Laptop to a PC

[parkho]

Hi. I have two computers one is a descktop and the other one is a laptop. I purchased a wireless modem and router to basically connect the computers to the internet and to each other. My laptop's OS is Win Vista and my descktop is running Win XP Sp2. I can connect each computer to the internet individually but I cannot get the two coputers find each other on the wireless network I have already set up. Please tell me what I should do to get this fixed.
Thanks

[mycarsavw]

Are they are both in the same workgroup?

[MSIC]

HI, this is probably one of 3 issues, and i can only advise on my knowledge / experience of using XP, although i hope that Vista will be similar enough.
Also, i'm going purely from memory here, so folks feel free to pick me up:

1) Workgroups. Usually these are set up as a Default called "Workstation". As long as they are set to the same, they should be fine. I have also had good luck with different workgroups accessing one another, but on other occasions has been the reason 1 couldnt see t'other.

2) Software firewalls. You probably have a hardware firewall on the router, but both XP (since SP2) and Vista (from day 1) have software firewalls too designed to prevent the outside world from getting in.
Again, i have experience when this isnt a concern and they seem to already be set up to allow a networked PC in, however it's worth checking (it's in Security centre).

3) Folder & file sharing.
Make sure that you change a folder (eg 'My Documents' or even set up a 'Test' folder) to allow others to see it. Without this, the 2 computers will be looking but wont find anything. Right click on a folder and select the Sharing / Securty option. It should be self-explanatory

There is one further issue that i am unsure about as it seems to come and go with me, but sometimes i can do a general scan and find a computer i am looking for, other times i have to explicitly search by the name of the PC in question. Make it easy for yourself, and make sure that you name the computers something simple, easy, and self-evident (GTER35723 is terrible, but Laptop1 is great)

[teodor_ch]

after checking everything MSIC said
you may need to create common users (same username/password) to connect without typing password each time.

[latrosicarius]

or they are in different scopes. Make sure both their IP addresses start with the same thing, like 192.168.0.xxx