Network connection between laptop and desktop?

I've just bought a new laptop, and I'm trying to connect it to my desktop through a network cable. I used to use this cable with another desktop, and I basically know how to set up the network (using windows xp). But on vista (laptop) the network wizard is different, and only gives me wireless options. Last night I managed to get a connection going, but with no internet. Today (when I really need to transfer something important) it wont work. The desktop doesn't come up on the laptop as being there. When I run the network setup wizard on the desktop it says "there was an error", but it said this last night and still worked; I assume it's referring to the internet not working. When I used the laptop earlier a thing popped up (when not connected to network cable) asking if I wanted to approve a connection or block it, and I chose block (because I wasn't sure what it was), but now I'm thinking maybe I blocked my desktop? If that might be it, how do I fix that? Or what else could it be?

Network connection between laptop and desktop?
Well if you are good at networking then you can remove the current network connections you have created till now (last night) on the desktop and the laptop... and go through the same steps to connect em once again.
Reply:Use wireless router. (Bluetooth Technology)
Reply:One reason is that your firewall protection might be blocking your network connection to different computer, try to turn off your firewall protecion for a while and that should do it.