File Sharing was working but now isn't

Question

Hey folks -
Some time ago I had quite a sruggle getting my MacBook Pro visible to my home network. I found this threa - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6198136 - and blew out the files and reset things and poof - there it was. For the rest of that day, and a few other times later in the week, I had no problem accessing the Mac from other computers and seending files happily back and forth.
Since then (February 08), I know that there have been a number of updates that I have allowed on the system. I have also just installed VMware Fusion to run and use Win XP while in the OS X environment.
I just discovered that while my other computers can see my MacBook - they can only see the printers share - and even there I don't see the actual printers, just the folder (but both printers are checked for sharing).
I have tried blowing things away again as in the link above and restarting, but no dice. I have unshared and reshared - but still no dice.
Under the Sharing / File Sharing / Advanced option I have made sure that the box for "Share files and folders using SMB" is checked. The default box for "Share files and folders using AFP" I have tried both checked and unchecked - this is the only Mac on the system - All other computers are Win XP systems, save for the server which is a CentOS 5 system. I can see the other computers in my network from the MacBook and I can connect to the shared folders on them - so I know I have local network access, but not the other way round.
I also have no idea how or why the Printer Share folder is showing up, but contains no actual printers. In VMware Fusion when I bring up XP Pro and try to install my networked HP 2300D by visiting it's URL, the ever so helpful IE tells me that it won't install the Active X component - so I thought I would just use the Printer share - and that's how I discoverd that the folder is there, but nothing is in it. Sure enough, the other systems in my network can see the MacBook, and they get a folder for the Printers - but nothing is in there.
Back in February this was working (file share and printer share) - no idea what changed or when it changed, but it is frustrating.
I have read through a number of other postings but none seem directly on point to this issue, so I have not found any solutions that have worked.
Hoping that someone can offer a suggestion that will work.

Answer 1

the same thing is with me too. me and my brother both have 2GB nanos, i got mine just after christmas. It kept doing this weird symboling thing, i couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. so, i took it back - to best buy. they gave me a new one. now i have this second one and it has been working fine until one day i asked my mom to plug it in and charge it for me. it still had about 1 red bar left. about 2 or 3 hours later, i went to unplugged it [safely unplugged it] and it had all my BROHTERS music updated on it [i always uncheck his songs first so they dont go on it, they WERE unchecked on itunes! i dont know how they got on!!!] so then i look, and it didnt even charge at all. it still had the same amount of energy. my brother rarely updates his ipod, just charges it. but, he did update it earlier that day, and since then...i cant CHARGE my ipod, i cant update it, nothing works. now i just tried plugging it in to charge, and it was on hold, so i slid the button so that it wouldnt be. There is still a little lock on the top left corner, like it shows when its locked. EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT LOCKED! it wont let me do anything. ive been trying to figure it out for HOURS, ive followed the 5 steps and NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK i need help so badly.