Very basic question

I am new to networking. I am trying to file/share print my 2 home computers. One is a laptop with XP the other is a desktop with 2000 PRO. I have a DSL modem with a wireless router. Both computers have wireless card in them.

When I ping the laptop with it’s IP address (which I got from ipconfig) I get a time out. Can you tell me why? What does it mean when I can’t get a reply from my own?

thanx

thanx for the info