Connecting Two Computers Together, help!

I have a Windows Vista Home Premium PC and a Windows XP Home SP3 PC that I want to connect so I can see the workgroups.

First of all the Vista PC is connected to a 2wire 2701HG router/dsl modem via ethernet. Another ethernet cord goes from the router to the XP PC. They both receive DSL internet so that is functional. Next I changed the Workgroup on both PC's to MSHOME. I disabled the intricate Firewall on Vista, like basically shut down the entire service because Vista just pisses me off :-D. I then went to Networking and File Sharing on Vista from Control Panel and turned on file sharing, public file sharing, no password protection, printer sharing, etc. I changed the network type from Public to Private as well.

On Both PC's I have Workstation, TCP/IP, Server, and other networking services started. All third party firewalls on both PC's are stopped. I have file and printer sharing on, on both PC's, I know for sure on XP. Windows XP also has the LLTP patch installed.

So here is my problem. When I go to ping my XP PC from Vista it works. When I go to ping my Vista PC from XP it gives me a timeout. When I go to the XP PC and look at the workgroups connected, it shows XP and Vista, but I cannot access Vista for some reason. When I got to see Vista's network and what computers are connected it doesnt show the XP workgroup.

I'm so confused, I spent hours looking online and trying different things and nothing works. Vista can ping but not see XP. XP can see Vista but not ping or access it...

Any suggestions?