My goal is to get a simple file server for windows xp/2000 clients. I need 1 share that's public, and anyone who plugs into the network can get to via \\server1\public. I also need 1 share that's only available to the people in the office via a name and password, so they can go to \\server1\office and be prompted for name and pass.

I'm using Centos 5, which has a broken system-config-samba gui, so I'm trying to do this by editing smb.conf and having no luck.

The best I've been able to accomplish is when I try to hit \\server1 it always prompts for a password; or I can set "security = share" and it will allow people into the public share no problem, but if I tried to access the password protected share, it would assume the user "guest" for username, and not allow me to change it.

Below is the output of testparm. Can someone tell me what I've got wrong?
[global]
netbios name = SERVER1
server string = Samba Server Version %v
passdb backend = tdbsam
guest account = public
username map = /etc/samba/smbusers
client NTLMv2 auth = Yes
client lanman auth = No
client plaintext auth = No
valid users = vic, liz, office, public
guest ok = Yes
printable = Yes

[public]
comment = Public
path = /data/public
write list = +public, +office, +vic, +liz
read only = No
printable = No

[office]
comment = Office
path = /data/office
valid users = +office, +vic, +liz
write list = +office, +vic, +liz
read only = No
guest ok = No
printable = No

[software]
path = /data/software
write list = public
read only = No
printable = No
browseable = No

I don't understand why you need all this. Just install vsftpd and have your Windoze clients access the file server using Filezilla or some other crappy windows software.

You need to set up samba users, using smbpasswd or similar. Samba doesn't use system users.

If you can't say something nice.... why say anything at all? These kind of responses are kind unnecessary.