mrcoolguy2007,

You could set up a local network very easily. If you have a laptop, I assume that you have a wireless router.

When you connect your desktop to the same router through network cable, then both of the computers are in the same local network.

Most routers will assign local IP addresses such as 192.168.0.101, 192.168.0.102, etc.

You can find the ip address of your computer by going to Start - Run - Type "cmd" and when the command prompt comes to screen type "ipconfig"

jot the IP address down for the desktop let's say 192.168.0.101
now on the desktop go to explorer and click on your hard drive ie. C drive, then right click and Properties then share. You can share it as let's say "mycdrive".

Now, when you're on your laptop, on your explorer type \\192.168.0.101\mycdrive it may ask you for username/password .. use the username password of the desktop.. for username you may have to use the format 192.168.0.101\username

This should open up the files from your desktop for sharing. Hope this helps.