Vista machine networking question

[Sukoo]

I have a vista business laptop and another vista home premium desktop connected with a cross patch cable.

Both the desktop and laptop can detect the network connection when I plug the cable into both machines.
If I can ping the desktop from my laptop but not the other way round, what could be the reason? I have disabled the firewall on both machines but it does not help.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

[Sukoo]

Here's what I tried on my vista home premium desktop so far.
1. Disabled the Vista firewall.
2. Changing the network from public to private on the Network and Sharing Center.
3. Tried both Network discovery On and Off

But not getting result.

How do I check what application is blocking the desktop from sending out ping?

[tomzcafe]

what are you trying to achieve in networking both systems ?
internet connection sharing ? file sharing ?

[Sukoo]

what are you trying to achieve in networking both systems ?
internet connection sharing ? file sharing ?

Yes internet connection sharing..

[tomzcafe]

then you need to setup internet connection sharing onthe computer which has internet connection
then you connect from the other computer ans set the gateway to this one
you may need to alter the dns manually

[Sukoo]

Yes.. but my vista desktop is unable to detect my laptop which is connecting to the internet.

[tidus792]

Uhh you should check some of these settings (don't bother with the pinging it's not relevant).

Under network center (for both computers)
Change to private network
Enable discovery (necessary to share files unless you tweak somemore)
Enable file sharing.
Enable reading / writing to public folder
Disable password for sharing folder
(Modify the settings as you need after you get the setup working)
You may turn off firewall as your wish but vista has taken away the need for that with the network center settings. It's all done auto.

If you click on network in the taskbar, you should see your own computer followed by your other computer. From there try writing a file to the other computer and vice versa.