text: do i need a router? i have a wireless dsl modem that is connected to my desktop by an ethernet cable, and a laptop connection that is wireless. i can connect to the internet on both computers, but i want to be able to network the two together. i've tried using the windows home network setup tool, and that doesn't work. you don't need a router, since both computers connect to the internet through same port or dsl router. follow these steps in order to network both of them. on your laptop and desktop, -right click on my computer, -select propreties -select computer name -name your laptop "my laptop",  name your desktop "desktop" -click on change -in the workgroup space, give your laptop and desktop same workgroup name(it is case sensitive). mshome is the default, change it to something different, but your laptop and desktop must have same workgroup. -click ok - a message "welcome to ******* workgroup" is shown. -please restart your computers(desktop and laptop) at this point. -when your computers (desktop and laptop) are on, -double click on my network places -on the left bar, click on "view work group computers" do this on both computers. -you will see the names of your laptop in the desktop and vice versa. you can now share documents, files, and drives.  asap