My Network Places

If you right click the Start "orb", then select Properties from the context menu, you get the Start Menu properities page.  Click  to put a dot next to Start Menu (rather than classic Start Menu) and click the Customize button.  On the next page, one of the options you can put a check mark next to is Network.  Do that and click OK.  Now, on the Start Menu, you will see what corresponds to My Network Places.

Another, not quite as fast a way of getting to it, if you don't want to put "Network" on your Start Menu, is to right click the little networking icon in the notification area (formerly called the system tray) of the taskbar, select Network and Sharing Center, then in the window that opens up click the link on the left for View computers and devices.

OK, I've brought up the Networks folder as per your instructions, but it looks like an ordinary Vista folder.  There doesn't seem to be an "Add Network Place" button and I can't find a way to browse through the network.  I'm trying to add a shortcut to a folder on another LAN'd computer.

You can see the folders shared from the Network and Sharing Center.  At the bottom of the window are two links for "Show me all the files and folders I am sharing" and "Show me all the shared network folders on this computer." or in the Network folder, you can right click each computer and select Explore.  To create a share to a folder on the Vista computer, you right click the folder in Windows Explorer, click on Properties, click on the Sharing tab, and then click the button for Share.

Thanks.  That was very helpful, but I think my problem is bigger.  I had tried that before opening the question, so if I was doing it properly, than the problem is the way the network is configured, as I only see the Vista machine on that list.  Basically, my setup is a Vista laptop and two XP desktops.  The XP desktops can see the laptop, but not access it and the Vista laptop cannot see the desktops.

I have enabled sharing as much as I understand it in Vista.  I've selected Private Network and turned on all the options underneath it, but the machines can't reach each other.  Any ideas there or should I open another question?

Thanks,

Peter

Well, it really is a separate question, and I'll leave you to decide whether to close this one and start a new one.  But meanwhile, a bit of advice on your network setup:  

Have you downloaded and installed the LLTD (Link Layer Topology Discovery Responder) on the XP machines?  Without that, the Vista machines will not see the XP machines in the View full map link of Network & Sharing Center:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4F01A31D-EE46-481E-BA11-37F485FA34EA&displaylang=en

Same workgroup for all pcs?  Actually sharing something, rather than just file sharing turned on?  Same users and passwords entered on all pcs?  Network discovery on?

You might be interested in looking at this question which I asked not long ago, when I was having trouble setting up my home network with XP machines and Vista in it.  It mentions all of the things needed for a wireless network with XP and Vista in it:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/22772074/XP-pcs-cannot-see-Vista-pc-in-home-network.html

In setting up my home network, I found I had to turn off the firewalls temporarily before trying to see the Vista machine in the XP My Network Places, then turn the firewall back on once it succeeded.  See this page:

http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/2007/04/09/vista-networking-problems-try-this/