Dell Laptop with XP keeps dropping connection

make sure the wep key you apply it is correct.just reconfgure the wireless connection.

is there any alternative on how to operate and install by our own

By any chance, are you trying to use something other than Windows to manage the wireless adapter? If you are, remove it.

Now, Click on Start, right click on Network highlight properties, and click on manage network connections on the Tasks menu.
Your two options will be the icons for your LAN and Wireless Network. Is it enabled and without red or yellow marks? It could be disable, it could be not connected and you can't view wireless networks because the switch is off, or it may just nut see your unsecure network (unlikely).

If the above is clear, right click on the wireless and highlight Properties and left click so it brings up the Networking tab. Highlight IPv4 and click on Properties. Make sure the Obtain dots are ticked. That should work, since you are running unsecured.
If it already is, check the red X or if it isn't click OK and close down the box.

Now, back to where your Wireless card is showing, right click it and you have Disable, Connect/Disconnect, Status, Diagnose etc.

If you're still Disconnected but not Disabled, click on Connect/Disconnect. Does it show your wireless network?

By this time, it should. If it doesn't post back. The other possibility is that you take your computer to a wireless internet cafe, McDonalds, Panera Bread, or motel with WiFi and test it there.

Carl

So you have a DSL modem connected to a router connected to a wireless router connected to both your computers? Sounds like you need to just get a wireless modem and throw all the routers away.

However as you said Desktop works fine and this seems to be issue with Wireless Netwrok card of your Laptop try to upgrade drivers of the Wireless netword card opf your laptop and this may possibly resolve the problem..

Often this is a simple power management issue. On the laptop check the wireless properties and disable allow Windows to turn off this device to save power.

Try logging into the router with your desktop hard-wired and find the 25-digit passcode and use that to log on to the wireless network with the laptop. If not, then check if connection is good by hard-wiring the router to the laptop. Let me know what happens or if you have solved the problem.

Changing channel wont help,you should use specific ip setting then automatic ip setting

The message for an unplugged network cable, means you have enabled wired network, but the cable isn't there. No problem if you are connected wireless.
To be able to access files on computers over your network, you need to enable filesharing for the desired directories or disks.
Right-click the directory or disk, go to sharing and set the correct settings. Maybe you have to allow for network sharing the first time.

Please post some feedback

using windows xp on all the computers, when you connect to the printer windows should automatically install drivers.

1. Goto My Computer, Click My Network Places (Explorer Bar).
2. Click View Workgroup Computers (Explorer Bar)
3. Find the computer that has the printer physically connected to it, open it
4. Find the printer and right click it!
5 Select Connect... and wait for the drivers to install.

this should install the print drivers and install the printer on your computer. the printer should now be available in print dialogs i.e. word etc etc and from the Control Panel > Printers window.