Wireless Network Setup Guide for Idiots?

Hi another newbie here pulling out his hair.

I got a desktop and laptop, both running XP. I bought a MN700 and MN720. I
went through the set up wizard for the desktop first, then the laptop, and
all went great. I have internet access sharing the DSL modem. No problem
there.

However, the next setp was to enable the computers to communicate together
and the laptop to access the desktop's printer. This part is driving me
nuts.

I started by going to Computer name for both, and specified the same
workgroup name. I then went to network connections and clicked on Newwork
setup wizard. I went with use existing internet connection then determine
appropriate connections. After following this through on both machines, and
enabling sharing of both files and the printer, I can't get anything
working. I've gone back and forth, and while it seems on the desktop a
bridge (Mac bridge miniport?) gets set up correctly, the laptop immediately
stops getting internet access.

When I open MBNU for the desktop, it sees the laptop under network devices,
but I cannot access it. However, when open MBNU for the laptop, instead of
seeing the previous IP address of 192.168.2.xx, there's a weird one,
168.xxx.xx.xx and it says network trouble. If I open Network conections and
try to repair, I only get another 168.xxx.xx.xx address. Seems to be a dead
end. I then deleted the network bridge on the laptop, went back to the MBNU
adpator and click renew ther, and boom, the internet is working again. I
can't figure this out???

I there some sort of guide that can take me through the various steps of
getting the network part working? Again, both are getting though to the
internet via the MN700 to the dsl modem, obviously the desktop via ethernet,
and the laptop via the mn720, but I just can't get them to communicate
together over this same mn700. I'm at wits end! Please HELP!!!

Thanks!