After reading numerous guides on the 'net I have accomplished nothing but confusing myself(not a difficult task) so I hope somebody here can help me out. I want to setup a home network between my desktop and laptop, mainly for the purpose of printer sharing. Currently I have a desktop connected with an ethernet cable to a wireless router which has cable internet access. I have a notebook with a wireless adapter and I am able to connect wirelessly to my router for internet access. Can somebody give me a "dummies" step by step guide on setting up a home network for the purpose of file/printer sharing? I don't need a wireless adapter in my desktop do I? Thanks for any help

First, make sure both computers are in the same Workgroup. To do this, right click My Computer | click Computer Name tab. Make sure the Workgroup value is the same on both machines. Next connect the printer to your desktop computer and add the printer to your desktop computer using the Add Printer Wizard. After that, open up your Printers and Fax control panel applet and right click the printer and select Share this printer. Give it a Share Name and thats it. Now go on your laptop, and open up the Printers and fax control panel applet. Click Add a Printer. Here, instead of clicking a local printer, click printer connection, and browse your network until you find the printer. I have NOT lost my mind — I have it backed up on tape somewhere

No you do not need a wireless adaptor in the desktop. In Control Panel> Network Connections rightclick on the LAN connection and select the properties tab. In the list of installed protocols is there a tick in the box next to "File & Printer Sharing" ? In the Details panel in the lower left margin of the Network Connections screen check the reported LAN settings for each machine. Are they both in the same IP range such as 192.168.0.xxx and same subnet mask eg 255.255.255.0 where the xxx is a number between 0 and 255. Other thing to check again in Control Panel> System> Have a look at the Computer Name tab in the system properties box. Both machines need to be part of the same workgroup. eg my workgroup is called "Workgroup". Once you have the settings correct you may have firewall issues to deal with that will otherwise prevent your systems communicating. Then you have to individually share your printer in the host machine , and instal it as a network printer in the client machine. Look in Control Panel> Printers and rightclick on the selected printer. I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.

Thanks both of you. After starting from scratch follow your advice it is now working. I did have to deactivate the firewalls in order for the printer to show up on my laptop to install it but I have since reactivated it without problems. Thanks again.

Thanks for the feedback, and well done on getting it sorted. I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.