Please help me! I can't get my home network to even begin to work...

Desktop is connected to AOL BB without problems using the AOL dialler (not the AOL browser).
Crossover cable connects this desktop to a laptop.
I have run the network setup wizard, first on desktop then laptop. Workgroup name is HOME on both. I allowed folder and printer sharing and internet connection sharing. Both use XP (desktop is home, lap top is pro).
I have two user accounts on the desktop and used mine to setup the home network.
When turning the laptop on, the login screen requires a password for default username (as far as I know no user accounts have been set up on the lap top and when I open the user accounts icon in the control panel it just freezes).

Anyway, the network doesn't seem to have worked. If I open IE on the laptop it doesn't load any web pages. None of the folders are sharing. I can't see the printer. In My Network Places I have clicked on View Workgroup Computers but I get the following:

"Home is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this service to find out if you have access permissions.

The list of servers for this workgroup is not available."

Does anyone know what I have to do? Is it a problem with the user accounts on the laptop?
Please help cos I am trying to get my girlfriends laptop online so I can use the desktop more often!
Clive

Oh, I don't know if this helps but since I connected these two computers together I have lost the internet connection three times now. I suddenly lose access to the net but the AOL dialler icon is still "on". When I right-click in the tray and select disconnect it is really slow to do this. I then right click on the now turned off AOL dialler icon and connect and the net is back again. What's going on?