I am fairly new to all of this, so please bear with me.
I have my desktop connected to the internet via a Belkin_Pre_N_Router and
cable modem. My Laptop is connected wirelessly to the internet via the same
router. Both connect to the internet with no problems.  I want to share
Files, Printers etc between the two machines but I am uncertain about how I
should do this. Do I set up a 'normal' network on the desktop and a wireless
network on the laptop or do I set up wireless network on both of them? Both
machines are on XP Home, SP2.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You need to set up File and Print Sharing in your network properties.

Right Click My Network Places
Go to Properties
Then locate LAN connection
Right click that go to properties
Then enable File and Print Sharing.

You will then need to set up your shared folders.
Show quoteHide quote

In article <81662154-5D47-4F69-BDAB-C4904955F***@microsoft.com>,
columbo <colu***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
You only set up wireless networking on a computer if that computer
connects to the router using a wireless connection.

Run XP's Network Setup Wizard on both computers.  If the Wizard
detects the router's shared Internet connection, tell it to use that
connection.  Otherwise, tell the Wizard that the computer connects to
the Internet through a residential gateway (router).  The Wizard will
create a Shared Documents folder on each computer and share any
printers connected to them:

XP ICS - Starting the Network Setup Wizard
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/networksetupwiz.htm

You can then right-click and share other desired disks and folders.

I just got mine going a few days ago.  I also have two computers working on
XP Home Edition SP2, both wireless thru a Belkin wireless router.  In additon
to running the home or small office wizard I had to do the following:

1.  Changed Node Type from Peer-Peer to Broadcast
2.  Uninstalled all protocols other than TCP/IP
3.  On Advanced TCP/IP settings WINS tab, changed Net BIOS from Default to
Enable (Don't know if this was necessary but did it anyway)
4.  On my Norton 2006 Anti Virus permitted ports 137-139 and 445

These steps were taken on both computers.  Also, I did not run the wireless
home or small office wizard.

Disclaimer:  I am not an XP expert, far from it.  I picked up all this
information from this site.

Show quoteHide quote

Can't see computer in workgroup, but shared resources are availabl
Installing home network problem
Internet Connection Sharing doesn't work on home net ARGGGHH!!!!
Excess Unknown Internet activity
Networking completely dead...
Ghost Broadband connection on Wan Miniport(PPPoE)
Network connection Icon disappeared from My Network Places
"Add network place" user+password problems
VPN
Shared Folders not working