SQL server 2005 proble..help..

I created a program under Visual Studio 2008 (VB) and use the SQL Server 2005. My Laptop is a Windows Vista Machine. To connect the Database in SQL Server 2005 I use standard Windows Authentification because it is a local instance. I can also create a named instance. For a Customer I have to create a remote connection.

I build a network with two Laptops (WLAN) and made a setup with the program on both machines. When I start the program the first step is to connect the database. On Laptop 1 is the program, the SQL Server named Server 1 and the Database. On Laptop 2 is the Program and the SQL Server named Server 2. When I start the program on Laptop 2 and I want connect via Remote control Laptop 1 with Server 1 the system tells me that he is unable to dissolve the server name. He needs a Server account and a domain. But I cannot create a domain on my laptop. In the knowledge I read that a domain can be created with Active Directory. I can not find a solution to use Active Directory and to create a Domain.
Any help is welcome..thanks guys..

You can use IP address in SQL to address a server name, and you can use a hosts file to fake domain names, or am I missunderstanding?

..hmm..ill give it a try..is there any other way you can think of?

VPN and tunnelling, virtual machines. tbh i'd think a host file is the easiest or simply using IP - in any case you will need to come off DHCP and use a static IP.

I'm guessing your using express?

By default you need to tell SQL 2005 explicitely to allow remote connections, IIRC.