Ad Hoc Problem, please help :(

Host computer: Windows Vista, Desktop connected through ethernet
Laptop: Windows Vista, Trying to connect wirelessly through ad hoc to host computer
Both computers have wireless adapters

After days of frustration I had finally managed to set up a wireless ad hoc connection between these two computers, enabling me to use my laptop through the interent

Then today I reset the host computer and I am having the same connection trouble as I had always had before I successfully connected the two computers. The problem was the laptop could find the wireless network ok, but when I tried connecting it, the connection status was stuck on "Identifying".

Please please help me this is driving me up the wall and please dont ask me to get a wireless router, its not an option.
Thanks