Vista Wireless Internet Sharing

Ive been having issues with creating an ad-hoc network, and hoping its just user stupidity and not a technical difficulty. Heres the deal:

Because of the way my house is set up, and the location of the cable modem, Im not able to actually use a wired connection, well I could, but it would require a LOT of CAT5 cable, which I just dont have access to, and would require some home modification.

Both computers connect to the internet, but my desktop is located closer to the wireless modem, and therefore has a much stronger and stable internet connection. My laptop, however, does not if Im not in the same room as my desktop. In my attempts to set up an ad-hoc network, all I was able to do was create a home network for file sharing, but it wouldnt share the internet. It wasnt a great connection, but was far more stable, and still stronger than when I get it to connect to the wireless modem.

Is there a way to share the wireless internet connection my desktop receives, with my laptop, wirelessly? Ive been googling like crazy, and so far havent found anything that actually worked. Right now my desktop is connected to the internet, obviously, and when I use my laptop to try and find my desktop (I know its name obviously) it doesnt show up.

My question is, does anyone know how to use Vista (installed on both computers) to act as a hub so I can use another computer to connect wirelessly to its wireless internet access?

 

I would just place some real access points to cover those areas of the home, that the main wifi router can not.

 

Access points could just extend the range of the wireless right? Not actually have to be hardwired to the modem or anything?

 

They would need a hardline from the router, or you could do Ethernet over Powerline and use a access point also. Can also be done with a repeater set up.