Very basic question

You gave just basic info so pardon me if my suggest is basic and leave out something that keeps you from continuing.

Here are some basic steps to take:

Your goal is to be able to share files and a printer on your 2 system network.

Working from your ISP trough all the equipment envolved, Your ISP assignes you ONE ip address period. Assuming it is not the same number each time (they usually charge more for that) you need something to share that number. Enter your Router. This can be (and should be) a seperate piece of hardware and is probably the same piece of equipment you are already using for your wireless access point.
Once your router is assigned the IP address from your ISP you need a way to share that number to your other devices. If you don't you won't connect. Look for something called DHCP in the router settings. Be sure it is enabled.
Then, on your two PCs in your network settings, be sure they are set to automatically get their IP address and DNS address. This is usually default.
Now your printer must be connected to one of the PCs, (I'm assuming the desktop. The driver must be installed on BOTH PCs. So be sure to install using either the disk that came with it or the latest downloaded driver.

Then set the Desktop so that File/Print sharing is turned enabled.

Now, starts the testing to see if it all works.
First do a test print from the Desktop PC if it works, the driver is ok.
Next see if the laptop can get on the internet. If not, don't try anything else until it can.
Once it sees the internet you can go to MY Computer and map a drive to a folder on your Desktop. Once this is established you can Add a printer, then search for your printer under networked device. Once you find it, install it and since you already have the driver installed you should now be able to do a test print from the wireless laptop to the printer connected to the Desktop.

I have exactly the same set up at home and my wife constantly works from her laptop from the living room, by the pool, or upstairs in bed and has no problem sharing files and printing while having perfect access to the internet.

Good luck. and again sorry for the basic descriptions but without details of your hardware that's the best I can do.

You gave just basic info so pardon me if my suggest is basic and leave out something that keeps you from continuing.

Here are some basic steps to take:

Your goal is to be able to share files and a printer on your 2 system network.

Working from your ISP trough all the equipment envolved, Your ISP assignes you ONE ip address period. Assuming it is not the same number each time (they usually charge more for that) you need something to share that number. Enter your Router. This can be (and should be) a seperate piece of hardware and is probably the same piece of equipment you are already using for your wireless access point.
Once your router is assigned the IP address from your ISP you need a way to share that number to your other devices. If you don't you won't connect. Look for something called DHCP in the router settings. Be sure it is enabled.
Then, on your two PCs in your network settings, be sure they are set to automatically get their IP address and DNS address. This is usually default.
Now your printer must be connected to one of the PCs, (I'm assuming the desktop. The driver must be installed on BOTH PCs. So be sure to install using either the disk that came with it or the latest downloaded driver.

Then set the Desktop so that File/Print sharing is turned enabled.

Now, starts the testing to see if it all works.
First do a test print from the Desktop PC if it works, the driver is ok.
Next see if the laptop can get on the internet. If not, don't try anything else until it can.
Once it sees the internet you can go to MY Computer and map a drive to a folder on your Desktop. Once this is established you can Add a printer, then search for your printer under networked device. Once you find it, install it and since you already have the driver installed you should now be able to do a test print from the wireless laptop to the printer connected to the Desktop.

I have exactly the same set up at home and my wife constantly works from her laptop from the living room, by the pool, or upstairs in bed and has no problem sharing files and printing while having perfect access to the internet.

Good luck. and again sorry for the basic descriptions but without details of your hardware that's the best I can do.

You gave just basic info so pardon me if my suggest is basic and leave out something that keeps you from continuing.

Here are some basic steps to take:

Your goal is to be able to share files and a printer on your 2 system network.

Working from your ISP trough all the equipment envolved, Your ISP assignes you ONE ip address period. Assuming it is not the same number each time (they usually charge more for that) you need something to share that number. Enter your Router. This can be (and should be) a seperate piece of hardware and is probably the same piece of equipment you are already using for your wireless access point.
Once your router is assigned the IP address from your ISP you need a way to share that number to your other devices. If you don't you won't connect. Look for something called DHCP in the router settings. Be sure it is enabled.
Then, on your two PCs in your network settings, be sure they are set to automatically get their IP address and DNS address. This is usually default.
Now your printer must be connected to one of the PCs, (I'm assuming the desktop. The driver must be installed on BOTH PCs. So be sure to install using either the disk that came with it or the latest downloaded driver.

Then set the Desktop so that File/Print sharing is turned enabled.

Now, starts the testing to see if it all works.
First do a test print from the Desktop PC if it works, the driver is ok.
Next see if the laptop can get on the internet. If not, don't try anything else until it can.
Once it sees the internet you can go to MY Computer and map a drive to a folder on your Desktop. Once this is established you can Add a printer, then search for your printer under networked device. Once you find it, install it and since you already have the driver installed you should now be able to do a test print from the wireless laptop to the printer connected to the Desktop.

I have exactly the same set up at home and my wife constantly works from her laptop from the living room, by the pool, or upstairs in bed and has no problem sharing files and printing while having perfect access to the internet.

Good luck. and again sorry for the basic descriptions but without details of your hardware that's the best I can do.

This is crazy. I have everything as it should be. The workgroup name is set up on both computers, the selected files are shared on both computers but alas I can't access one from the other. And I know it all points to me not being able to ping my own address (I can't ping the laptops address from the laptop)

can't ping, check your sw firewall, disable them.
can't share files and printer, create new workgroup, will get u there 100%.

I responded to your e-mail address with screen print attachments. I have not set these IP address so I will say that I am receiving them dynamically from the modem.

The modem is connected to the wireless router. Both computers have wireless cards. I really thought this would be a simple procedure.

Appreciate all help