Hi
You are actually asking three independent questions.
1. To be able to use the Notebook in variety of Situation see this,
http://www.ezlan.net/faq#fewtcp-ip
2. To Control your Desktop from Remoter see this,
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...moteintro.mspx
3. To Share Files when the two computers are connected to your Home Wireless
Router, this can Help.
Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings,
http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html As well as specific adjustment of each
computer according to what it is allowed to be shared.
Vista File and Printer Sharing-
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/net.../vista_fp.mspx
Basic XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...lesharing.mspx
Advanced XP - http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040
Printer Sharing XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...utt_july2.mspx
Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357
Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"zambacan" wrote in message
news:1178237531.470596.265740@n76g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> Here is my challenge..I have a Desktop (xp pro) and a Notebook (Vista
> home premium) both connected wirelessly to a netgear router. They can
> both access the internet. Ideally I want to access the Desktop from
> the Notebook, at least i want to be able to view and copy files. But
> ideally I would like to remotely take control of the desktop.
>
> Q.1 how best to do this?
> Q2 .If the desktop is joined to another network domain server which it
> is sometimes (via ethernet cable) ...does change things or make the
> above more difficult?
>
> thanks any assistance is much appreciated.
>

You can access the desktop remotely using remote desktop. These how to may help,
How to enable Remote Desktop remotely
How to setup Remote Desktop Connection. How to install Remote Desktop Web Connection · How to use Remote Desktop Web Connection. Related Topics . ...
http://www.howtonetworking.com/Remot...enablerdc1.htm -

remote desktop
This file contains the setup for the Terminal Client Software (Remote Desktop Connection, or MSTSC.exe) for Windows 9x/2000 computers. ....
http://www.howtonetworking.com/rdesktop.htm


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"zambacan" wrote in message news:1178237531.470596.265740@n76g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
Here is my challenge..I have a Desktop (xp pro) and a Notebook (Vista
home premium) both connected wirelessly to a netgear router. They can
both access the internet. Ideally I want to access the Desktop from
the Notebook, at least i want to be able to view and copy files. But
ideally I would like to remotely take control of the desktop.

Q.1 how best to do this?
Q2 .If the desktop is joined to another network domain server which it
is sometimes (via ethernet cable) ...does change things or make the
above more difficult?

thanks any assistance is much appreciated.

"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:
> You can access the desktop remotely using remote desktop. These how to may help,
> How to enable Remote Desktop remotely
> How to setup Remote Desktop Connection. How to install Remote Desktop Web Connection · How to use Remote Desktop Web Connection. Related Topics . ...
> http://www.howtonetworking.com/Remot...enablerdc1.htm -
>
> remote desktop
> This file contains the setup for the Terminal Client Software (Remote Desktop Connection, or MSTSC.exe) for Windows 9x/2000 computers. ....
> http://www.howtonetworking.com/rdesktop.htm

Please note that the OP has Vista - and the RDP client for Vista is not same
as for win2k...
there also are some issues connecting the new client and old server (XP)

Regards,
--PA


> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com

> "zambacan" wrote in message news:1178237531.470596.265740@n76g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> Here is my challenge..I have a Desktop (xp pro) and a Notebook (Vista
> home premium) both connected wirelessly to a netgear router. They can
> both access the internet. Ideally I want to access the Desktop from
> the Notebook, at least i want to be able to view and copy files. But
> ideally I would like to remotely take control of the desktop.
>
> Q.1 how best to do this?
> Q2 .If the desktop is joined to another network domain server which it
> is sometimes (via ethernet cable) ...does change things or make the
> above more difficult?
>
> thanks any assistance is much appreciated