I have a desktop running XP Pro sp3, and a laptop running XP Home sp3. I have the desktop wired to a netgear WGR614 wireless router, which is connected to my satellite internet modem. The laptop uses a netgear wireless PC card WG511T to connect to the wireless router, and to the internet.I want to set up a home network. I used the windows wireless network wizard to establish the wireless connection for the laptop, and internet connectivity is great. When I used the home network wizard, I selected the option that described my computers as being connected to the internet through a residential gateway. As I said before, internet connectivity is perfect through both machines, and when I click on "view workgroup computers on my desktop, it shows both the desktop and laptop. When I try to select the laptop icon, however, I get the following error message..."\\Laptop is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The network path was not found."When I "view workgroup computers" on my laptop, it won't even show the desktop. I get the following error message..."[workgroup name] is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."I have set up all the file and printer sharing options (I think), and have even tried turning firewall options totally off. I'm running AVG on both computers, but have all those firewall options disabled.I would like a step by step setup plan to get my desktop and laptop to recognize each other on the network, and I haven't been able to find one yet. When I've done a Google search, I find that a lot of other people have had the same problems, but I haven't yet found a solution listed (after about 20 hours of searching). What I have found is a lot of knuckleheads who seem to revel in advising people to, "just do an internet search". If that is all the advice you have to offer, please save it. If, on the other hand, you can give me a step by step solution that doesn't require an advanced degree in network engineering, I would love to hear from you.Thanks in advance, and God bless.1 person needs an answerI do too

HiMaybe this can Help.Make sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local traffic. If you use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native Firewall should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party Firewall instructionsGeneral example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#trustedPlease Note that some 3rd party Software Firewalls keep blocking aspects of Local Traffic even it they are turned Off (disabled). If possible configure the Firewall correctly, or totally uninstall it to allow clean flow of local network traffic. If the 3rd party software is uninstalled or disables, make sure that Windows native Firewall is On .Windows XP File Sharing - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspxWindows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357In Win XP pro you can Visually see the Permission/Security setting, and configure them to your liking.http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/accesscontrol.mspx#securityTabWhen finished with the setting of the system it is advisable to Reboot all the hardware including the Router and all computers involved.Jack-MVP Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET

Okay, but while I work on that let me ask an even more fundamental question...In the home network wizard I am prompted to indicate how my computers connect to the internet. None of those options include "connect to the internet using a router attached to a modem".The last time I ran this on the desktop, I indicated that the computers connected via a residential gateway or another computer. When I ran the home network wizard I indicated the same settings, but the wizard indicated that I was connecting using an unknown internet connection sharing.Should I consider the router to be a residential gateway, a hub, or other? As a refresher, this is my current configuration...Internet...modem...router...desktop wired and laptop wireless