Okay, now i know smb.conf is the way to do this properly, but since finding RH9 has a K>System Settings>Server Settings>Samba Server utility, i used that for the idiots way to get up a quick home server and i've been sort of reverse engineering the .conf it made for me and learning that way.

Everything is configured and running fine both ways between RH9, WinME, XP, and 2k. But whenever i try and go to Samba Server now, it asks for the root password, changes to the "loading samba" pointer for a second, then nothing happens.

Any ideas where it went and/or how to get it back?

have you tried /etc/samba? if nothing is there try : whereis samba. good luck