Yes, more network problems...

I've got my other networking problem (mostly) solved, but now I'm having other issues.

I was previously able to access the shared folders on a Windows machine on the network essentially by default. Now whenever I try to navigate to the shared folders graphically (either through Places->Network->Windows Network->(workgroup name here), or through a custom shortcut on the deskop), I get a message: "Failed to retrieve share list from server". I have no idea what I might have done config-wise (or install-program-wise) to screw it over, but something's definitely not working...it's been like this for a good many weeks, and I've just dealt with it, seeing as how I don't normally use that shared folder much anyway.

What's really ticking me off now, though, is that long before this started happening, I had set up a printer share with the same computer (using the graphical tool that comes with Ubuntu), and that worked excellently to start out. Recently, however, when I tried to print from the same printer (after the "Failed to retrieve share list" message started showing up), it would sit there and show "Pending"; it wouldn't print at all. Then I tried deleting the existing entry and creating a new one, figuring a new, fresh configuration would be created. However, when I tried to add a printer via the graphical tool (same as I had done before), it's telling me that "No printer was fount at [that] address".

Long story short, is there any way I can get file/printer sharing back?

From what you have described, it sounds like a problem on the server, not your Ubuntu client.

I would take a look at the sharing setup on windoze, and what about the firewall on windoze? Can you see any of those resources from a machine other than Ubuntu? ( another windoze system for example? ).

Yes, the shared folder is visible from the only other Windows machine on the network (a laptop running Windows XP, same as the desktop hosting the shared folder). I'm the only one who can't access it right now.

One interesting thing is that I'm able to run a traceroute on the laptop, but not on the desktop...which brings me to this:

There apparently is a firewall set up (Norton), but I've no idea how it's configured, and I'm pretty sure that's been there for a good while (set up long before these issues started happening).

I took a look at the settings for the shared folder, and under the "Sharing" tab, both the "Share this folder on the netowrk" and the "Allow other users to change the contents (etc.)" boxes are checked, so I don't think that's the main issue. I'm thinking it might be the firewall... I'll see if anything can be done about it (maybe my machine was blocked with a recent update to the Norton software on the Windows machine?).

I'm not sure if I'm running any firewalls; I don't remember configuring one...does Ubuntu come with any firewall utilities by default? And if so, is there anything I might have done inadvertently to change the settings, and that's what's preventing me from accessing the share?

I'm still undecided as to whether this is on my side or the Windows machine's side...

Sorry, I can not answer this question. Some distros do come with a pre-configured firewall. Windoze shares, like many other resources are accessed through ports, usually well defined. Firewalls block, or can allow access to certain ports.

At this point I would think firewall(s) are at the root of your problems.

What flavour of windbloze is this?

I can do a little searching to see if buntu comes by default with a firewall. 9.04, is that correct?

There are three computers on the network: Mine (Ubuntu 9.04), A Windows XP desktop (the machine with the shared folder and printer I want to access), and a Windows XP laptop.