File sharing, need help!

Hi!
I want to create home network for file sharing.
I use laptop with Vista, Kaspersy, wireless connect and desktop with XP home, McAfee, cable connect. Wireless ADSL2/2+ Router (A-Link).
Now, So far I have got to a stage where I can see both computers on both machines, however from the vista laptop I can not access desktop at all and from desktop I can only access public folder but not any other folders that I share.
Could someone please bother to write a step by step from here what he would do if he would be in that sort of situation because I read many articles on the internet suggesting what could resolve the issue but I dont wanna touch anything before being sure the problem is there.
And how can I improve the speed for file sharing? I was able to transfer a 200md document from public folder in 4 mins. Is that the speed limit or could it be faster with my router?
P.S. I have not typed in any of the ip, gataway, dns info manualy.
Please help to sort it out finally as I have this network battle for years now!

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=104191

 

WackyT did you even read the post? Its says that I have ticked the box for file sharing on the folder that I want to share, so i dont need the instructions how to do that. I think my problem is involves more attention than just that.
However, please help to resolve the issue.

 

No you didnt.

 

It is just amazing how many people have such a hard time with a simple task like folder sharing. MOHCTP, READ through the links and you should have no problem. I'm done with hand holding on this issue.

 

Please be kind to each other. Everybody does not know everything, that's why we have forums.

On another note, since this is a file sharing thread, please keep the discussion legitimate and only on legal advise.

 

Legal advise? What in any of the links in the message I linked to is illegal? Please advise. I'm sure Microsoft would like to know if anything on their site is illegal.

Also, there is a Search function available to forum members to look for continuously repeated requests like this.

 

Oh great now u gonna exchange compliments to each other? its my threat and the topic is different!
However I was able to find out that McAfee antivirus soft was blocking reading desktop network, so I typed in the ips in the both machines antiviruses. However I am still not able to access folder I share on my laptop from desktop even though I set highest permission level!
And how fast can file transfer be? Im getting around 1 mb/sec but is that a limit and what actually influences it?

 

On my 802.11g network, I get about 20mb/sec maximum. Turn off all non-802.11g extensions (super-duper express maximum speed stuff).

 

I get 2mb/sec but sure 20 sounds much better! How do i turn other extensions off?
And my new wireless adsl internet connection speed seems lower than it was with the older cable adsl. I use 1mb/sec connection, 2 computers, internet surfing is slower and p2p progrems barely every go up to 100kb/sec though they are 100% supposed to. Is there a way to test if Im getting maximum 1mb/sec connection out of my adsl?

 

In addition to the previous post I have encountered more problems.
Now, at my second place of residence I have 3 computers (including my laptop that works fine on the other network) connected to a switch (I think) its a D-link's small thing with 5 ethernet ports, and an uplink switch for a 5th port to which actually my cable modem is connected. No model number is provided on the thing so I cant say its a switch for 100%, atleast I think so, there is only smth like a serial number that has no help to be identified over the internet. So the problem is that I can not see computers on the network. I ran the wizard on them, made sure its the same group name. Could it be switch blocking? and what is this uplink feature for, I tried to switch it on off, seems to have no different on my internet connection atleast.
Firewall?

 

UPDATE:
The slow internet speed is caused by the bitcomet (p2p) and primary adsl router cause when I use bitcomet at my other place with other modem it goes on maximum and no problems what so ever. However, when I use it with wireless adsl it barely reached half of the speed and internet surfing becomes impossible. In addition, when I switch off bitcomet internet goes back to normal and normal downloads reach their full rate.
Does this have something to do with port forwarding or routers firewall?

 

It has to do with how may simutanious connection it can handle at one time. This is where the new Linksys routers have a problem, when they cut the ram in 1/2 and moved away from Linux code. The reason dd-wrt is popular.

 

Hmm its good to know but is there a solution for that? or should I just change my router into another one. Which one is the best at the moment?