Here's what I don't understand: (Networking Edition)

I have a desktop running Windows 10. I have a lap top running Windows 10. I cannot get information from one to the other via my home network, because neither are capable of joining a homegroup, nor creating one. And I have no idea why. Also, I can't figure out why the desktop refuses to recognize my 5 gig usb thumb drive, where as my laptop sees it just fine. It's not the port, because that works with other things, just not this particular thumb drive. So I'm waiting 7 hours for the data to go from the laptop to dropbox so I can download it onto my desktop. There has to be an easier way.