Vista - Unable to make shares unless...

So I just installed windows vista business x64 and i am having trouble with
file sharing.

Say I have a folder "foo" and I right click and go "share.." it shows my
user name there by default, so I go ok, that's fine, and go next. Then it
says your file is shared. But in reality it isn't shared. I click on "show me
all the files i'm sharing" and it says "folder empty" or something like that.
The path it gives me is \\COMPTUERNAME\Users\MyNameHere\Desktop\foo or
something like that, and i try to type that in and nothing appears.

So now I try right click -> properties -> sharing It says the folder is Not
shared and has no address to get to it. So i try clicking on that share
button in that properties dialog follow the same steps and same issue.

So by now i'm am just like mad. So I click on Advanced Sharing and then
click "share this folder" and FINALLY it gives me a network address and shows
up in the "folders i'm sharing" thing. however, i can't access it from
another a computer or something as I don't think the premissions are setup.

I am wondering why i can use the more "simple" way of sharing and have to go
to the advanced settings for it to even give it a network path i could use.
and also why it claims the folder is shared and it says in properties it
isn't.

My windows is up to date.

Thanks