It would be best to get file sharing working with wired connections before going wireless to eliminate the wireless configuration as the problem. But I guess you can always fall back to that if problem continues.
You don't need alternative software, you need to get yours working.
Operating System. What operating system(s) are you using?
Configuration. What is your network configuration? Do you just have the two computers trying to speak with each other directly using an "ad-hoc" wireless connection or are you using a wireless router to connect them?
Ping. From a command window at each computer see if you can ping the other one using its IP address. For example: >ping 192.168.1.2. If the computers cannot successfully ping each other, you do not have connectivity, and will not be able to communicate.
Show Shares. If the computers can ping each other, use the Run dialog window off the Start menu to see if you can access the shares of the other computer. For example enter "\\ip_address" in the text entry box of run dialog window and hit enter.
This is discussed and illustrated coherently in the following Microsoft downloads:
File and Printer Sharing with Microsoft Windows Troubleshooting File and Printer Sharing in Microsoft Windows XP
