Mac newbe with networking issues

Hello all,

I am new here but it seems like a great board. I have a file sharing question.

I have had my MBP for a week. So far I have successfully shared files with my Vista computer; it just happened. In Finder, in the left column under "shared" I can see every computer in my house.

When I click on my Windows 7 computer, it shows all the shared folders but when I try to open one of the folders it always says, "The operation cannot be completed because the original item for 'whatever folder' can't be found."

I have tried the smb:// (ip adress) and (computer name) and it says the same thing. I have also determined that the workgroup name does not seem to matter because when I change it on the Mac and close the window, it changes back, and still I can share files with Vista.

I have AVG internet security with firewall on the win 7 computer but I get the same thing when I turn it off. I have also turned off the firewall on the Mac to try......same thing

I have been Googling it for a few days and I cannot find anything that works.

Any suggestions? Because I can share with Vista, may I safely assume it to be a Windows 7 security setting or something on that computer?

Is it acceptable to bump your own post here?

If nobody knows what I'm talking about, ask your kids ;P

Did you happen to see this ? How To Easily Share Files Between Mac & Windows Computers

I have, thanks for responding.

That's why I am starting to think my problem is an "extremely helpful" security setting in Windows.

There always Dropbox .

Yes, I can drop files from Windows 7 to my Mac. I just want to access my windows computer from my Mac when I'm out back in my studio on my drum kit. I can access Vista in this way but my massive media storage is on the windows 7 rig.

another option may be iCloud perhaps i may be way off here though