I just bought a Netgear wireless router that is connected to my desktop computer, and a netgear wireless card for my laptop so I can share files between the two and the internet. The laptop can communicate fine it seems with the router, and the desktop communicates fine too, but I can't get the two computers to recognize each other on the network. I have them all under the same settings but it just is not working. The work group, etc is the same and everything. I have windows XP pro on the laptop and Windows XP home on the desktop. any hints you guys can give me? this is my first time and I can't figure out how to get it working right. thanks guys!

Do you have any communication? Like Printers Icon?

There'* nothing, when you go to "my network place' and then 'view workgroup computers" ony the computer you're on will show up in the list. Nothign else shows up. If you double click on your own computer then you can see the shared files, printer, etc.
I've also noticed that when double clicking on the network connection on the laptop it says the IP address, DNS server, and gateway addresses are all 'unavailable' yet this all shows up on the desktop just fine...

You need to make sure both computers are on the same workgroup and are not named the same. What operating systems do you have? There'* different ways to do it depending on OS...

The Emachines desktop uses XP home, the Toshiba laptop uses XP PRO. Both are on the 'HOME' network

And the computer names are different, right?

I usually set static IP'* instead of dynamic, just to make sure that they are not clashing. I'd go into the TCP/IP properties and give your computer an IP address, and make sure the gateway is set to the router IP...

how do you change the gateway IP

Right-click My Network Places -->Properties-->Right-click Local Area Connection-->Properties-->Double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)-->Click the "Use the following IP address" radio button and enter your information.
IP address:your computer (Usually 192.168.x.x)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 (or use the one that auto-completes)
Default gateway: (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.100)

All IP'* on your network behind your router should always have the 192.168 prefix...

There isn't anywhere in the properties to change the TCP/IP settings. it only has 'configure' for the wireless card. (this is on the laptop for the wireless) The desktop does have all those settings though, and they're already present. :(

Hmm... :? ...it should have the same settings whether it'* wireless, fire-wire, ethernet...lemme see sumthin...I'll be right back....