I previously posted here:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,82437.msg683682.html#msg683682I have no desire to hijack the OPs thread....
I believe I have been through many iterations of issues and now believe two things: root is necessary and the Samba config does not stay put even when using or logged in as root and [the biggie] it appears that the login procedure for shared directories is not functioning.
I say this because the XP machine access my machine and that user's home directory on my machine. She can't access the shared directory in my home directory despite permissions being set for the group (yes, she is part of the group) full access to the shared directory. The XP box gives several errors: invalid link [not possible as the directory is shown in Network Neighborhood] and can't access due to permissions. I believe the two are tied together as something on my system [samba or

?] is not allowing the access despite the file permissions being proper.
I can't figure out why the settings are not staying when you right-click on the directory. I've had to make it Public and Writeable more than once and when it asks for the root password, I give it. I've made the change when logged in as root and still this happens.
I've gone in through PCC.... under drakSambaManageShares.... when you click modify the shared directory comes up blank in the Public, Writable and Browseable fields. When I change them to Yes.... they don't stay....
This is a mess....
Also, when I go through PCC to verify users... the login comes up each time with five placeholders.... I have tried to change the passwords and each time it comes up with five placeholders..... maybe this is a display issue.... maybe not.... This may be the key. If the passwords for Samba run through here and it is messed up, that would explain the current state of communication between the machines.
Edit: In PCC network-auth is stopped. I tried to start it and it says "Usage: network-auth {start|stop}". when I click on the Info button it says "Requires network to be up if enabled". Right above it network says it is running. I can neither start nor stop network-auth.
Also, winbind has the "on boot" option checked but it is stopped. When I try to start it I get a message "Winbind is not configured in /etc/samba/smb.conf, not starting". I believe I went through this before and did not need winbind for the sharing to work.