I was just working on same subject. I run a fedora core 3 linux in a windows network environment. First I could not see the machine name on the network domain. Then I started samba server and provided a domain name in Server Settings->WorkGroup box. In the box below, just write a description. In the tab Security, i chose User as Authentication Mode and a Guest Account which I created before. I checked from a Windows machine to see my linux machine. Yes
I could see it, but could not get into any folder of my linux machine. Meanwhile I chose a directory to share with the help of Samba Server Configuration tool. I signed "Allow access to everyone" box. Still could not see any folder.

Now, as the last step, I closed the firewall service, from the services menu just that appears in main menu just below the Samba Server Config. The name of the service is iptables. Just stop it. Now all the folders I shared appears in windows machines.
I hope this helps.

NomadABC,
I am trying to do the same thing you were, i have two comp running win xp, and 1 running linux fedora core 3. i would like to be able to download files from the internet and then be able to transfer them from the linux machine to the XP machines. i am very new to linux so i dont know how you changed code and stuff in the .smb file. i also have the linux fedora core 3 bible, and did everything it said. can you please help me. i would be very greatful
thanks