[Noob] Local Network problems

[Go7enKs]

I tried some guides to solve this problem but couldn't, so I guess I will ask here.

In my house I have 2 computer (a laptop with ubuntu, a desktop win XP) and an external HD connected via ethernet to the router.

I use a lot of shared folders between these three and now that I have installed Ubuntu on my laptop I can't see nor acces those shared folders. What should I do in order to acces those folders?

I'm quite a noob so don't take anything for granted.

Thanks in advance!

P.S.
I have Ubuntu 8.04 and I already installed Samba (in case that matters).

[Iowan]

Not a permanent fix, but from the Ubuntu Places>Network Location bar...
try typing smb://x.x.x.x where x.x.x.x is the ip of the windows machine.. it hopefully should open the shared folders.. http://prash-babu.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-access-windows-shared-folders-in.html

[Go7enKs]

Thanks, this way it works. As you say it's not permanent but for now it certainly helps. I can also put a bookmark to make it "permanent". Thank you ;)