I just cannot seem to find any working solutions for my current Ubuntu install to connect to a Win 10 PC for file access on shared drives.
The folks going to Linux for this reason would be elated if a guru would find an easy, surefire solution.

Firstly: I've gone from Anti X, Lubuntu, Mint, and finally Ubuntu 16.04 after reading all over of the flavor providing the most straight forward methods of accessing Windows networked PC and drives. All in 2 days of trying my hardest.
I can see my win pc's in network, I can access my HDHOMERUN tuner and shared media files in Plex and KODI.
I can ping my various pc's on my 192.168.5.xxx net.
Light Linux versions on the older pc make it peppy. Networking sucks.

Following all tutorials I can't get the login screen showing workgroup, PC, Login to server, etc...At All. Samba is installed, the GUI portion is installed. Ubuntu Samba configuration tutorials differ and my conf file is nothing like what is demonstrated.

Out of the blue I plugged in a spare SATA drive in the Ubuntu pc and installed Win 7. Immediately Windows showed ALL shared drives and directories. Jumping across my DD-WRT WRT45G router to the access point at my house. No firewall in between.

Could I please get a definite "10 step" (or more if that what it takes) solution to get access to my drives in Ubuntu? Nothing seems to even remotely work.

System config:
Dell P4 3.2GHz. 4gig ram. 32 bit. Ubuntu 16.04
Wired Ethernet connection to a DD-WRT wireless client bridge using a 192.168.5.xxx network.

Again, I've followed all tutorials for the different flavors and ended up using Ubuntu. Network is showing all hardware on my network, none are accessible when I click on the icons. And that was the same on the flavors I went through the past few days. It should be easier, man.

Why is it so difficult? A configurator GUI to enter my networking parameters seems an obvious solution. Plex works without a hitch to listen to music. So does KODI.
But I need to access files from my networked Win 10 pc in the house.
That is where I keep service manuals for electronics bench repairs.

Thanks all for any advice!!!

Check Samba version on both side, Ubuntu 16.04 and Windows 10. Windows 10 use higher Samba version.

Interesting and thanks.
So Win 7 and 10 can access network shares without a hitch back and forth but the versions of Linux I've used recently cannot.
Even good old OpenSUSE can't do it. It seems as if the Linux community has disallowed the casual or new user at least the ease of doing it.
Now I need to go on a hunt searching what version of Samba 10 has to correct and hopefully access my network drives.
It would seem as if the details in Synaptic would note "For use with Windows 7 & 10 networking".
Seeing as how XP and earlier versions are dead.
It may be part of the fun in learning Linux. Part of my previous career was dummying-down difficulties with computer software and configurations where engineers and programmers were fluid, but lacked communication skills with those who just wanted to use it.

But since new flavors of nix should realize everyone else uses Win 7 and up, why package incompatible versions of networking to meld with Win users?
And I shudder if I had to do this with an Apple product.

So now the hunt goes on. Even if I had a fast, newer pc to run Linux on and use a version tailored to make it sing....still no easy networking.
And after all those hours of reading and trying this and that. A burned Windows 7 32 bit USB stick and a half hour got me what I needed.
Sheesh!

Ok. After enabling SMB 1.0 on my windows machine now I can get to my shared drives.
I was plagued by a keyring error that took some searching to fix.
Didn't have to change any Samba packages in Synaptic.
Now to learn how to create a 1 click solution to get direct access to the network drives on my desktop.
That should be a breeze. Right!