BleepingComputer.com: Unable to connect to the internet / modem

Sorry I thought you knew the internet would stop functioning.
The best solution would be to use the wireless card, if you do not have one download
the drivers in the laptop and transfer them to the desktop using a USB flash drive, you
can pick one up at most electronic stores for $10-20 if you don't have one.
You can only use a local area connection and route the internet from the laptop if your desktop
has a wireless card in it but it would make more sense to simply connect directly to the wireless
router if this were the case.
See if you have an external hard drive somewhere, if not you can put the files on a floppy or a cd-rom
and transfer them that way.