noosing myself over WIN7 network

I feel like noosing myself after browsing this and 50 other forums on how to network between windows 7 and Vista. God forbid you have an XP machine as well for the kids...

Is there no way to set up a STANDARD network, like we used in Vista - through Windows 7?
I cannot find anything using a somewhat standard network on WIN7 through wireless connecting to Vista, XP or (three) Media Centres

I have 3 Home wireless media centres that USED to run nicely on my Vista system. Streamed everything just fine.

I updated to WIN7 on my hub/main system and now have to re-network, but figured it was all part of the job and just got on with it.
Whoaaaa up there fella. You want a network? Well we have Homegroups - how bout that?
Well, no, they wont cut the cheese with any of the other systems or the media centres - what else do you have?

Can I go to classic networking, like you went to classic control panel in Vista?
well, no, apparently not.

I can deal with the no printer sharing for a while, I can deal with the emailing of docs and files instaed of just drag and dropping them, but I cant deal with, or rather my kids wont let me deal with the no wireless media centres.

They are nothing special (both - kids and media centres). The media centres are all suppossed to be win7 compatable. 2 x Astone, 1 x noidea
If theres a network on offer they have fund it previously, but these cant find the win 7 system.
They find the wireless modem, they cannot find anything beyond that.

PLEASE, if you are going to respond (helpfully), give a fools guide, dont just say, try advanced settings or like i saw on another website where some goose replied "thank god it has classical settings" (Bach, anyone?)

Any help would be appreciated

Or vote on the poll, should I noose myself?

Oz