2.6.16-1.2108_FC4 i686 athlon i386 GNU/Linux
Permissions for both directories discussed below are the same.

I can not access the "Classic" directory via SMB, but I can access the "Shares" directory with no problem. Both users' login information work for "Shares," but not "Classic." I tested nmblookup and testparm commands, both are successful. Accessing "Shares" from Windows boxes is successful, but attempting to access "Classic" fails with the following message:
"Path not accessible. Check permissions...blah blah"

If I run the following command via root in Linux,
smbclient //localhost/Classic -U user1, the following message is displayed: "tree connect failed: NT_STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME"

Below is a part of smb.conf.

[Shares]
path = /var/ftp/Shares
; writeable = no
browseable = yes
valid users = user1, user2
; writeable = no

[Classic]
path = /extra/Stuff/Classic
; writeable = no
browseable = yes
valid users = user1, user2
; writeable = no

Note:
The smb service, server, and client were restarted.

Set the permissions on the directory to all. Use this command as root.
chmod 777 /extra/Stuff/Classic

edit: Didn't read your post correctly. This may not help.
Is this directory a seperate partition on the drive, a second drive, or external drive?

Brian1

Yes, this is one of three hard drives installed (/dev/hdd1) /extra. ext3 file system is used. var/ftp is on the second hard drive and is accessible with no problems, as stated in first post.

If it automounts compare the lines for them in /etc/fstab.
Also umount each and compare permissions and then when they are mounted.

Brian1

fstab info below:

LABEL=/var /var ext3 defaults 1 2

/dev/hdd1 /extra ext3 defaults 1 1

permissions:
ls -la /extra/
total 16
755 2 root root 4096 May 8 22:52 .
755 24 root root 4096 May 21 13:58 ..


ls -la /extra/Stuff/Classic
total 80
777 10 root root 4096 May 18 19:05 .
755 3 root root 4096 May 21 13:19 ..


ls -la /var
total 212
755 25 root root 4096 Mar 26 20:11 .
755 24 root root 4096 May 21 13:58 ..


ls -la /var/ftp/Shares
total 4598920
777 14 root root 4096 May 21 14:28 .
755 4 root root 4096 May 5 00:56 ..