Powerbook will not network with PC

Question

I have spent the last 4 hours in the Apple Discussions forums trying to find a solution to my problem with no avail. Please forgive me if I have alot of links to explain my issue, I'm just too exhausted to re-iterate. So here's the jist...
I wanted to network my Powerbook G4 (10.4.6) to my PC (Windows XP) to share common files like pictures and music. Seems simple enough.
Searched around here for a 'how-to" and found this nifty guide that was linked in tons of other posts. I followed it to the tee. End result: PC reading MAC works like a dream. But like so many other people, MAC just would not read PC.
Looked for similar problems posts, followed all the same solutions listed everywhere I could find them. And still nothing.
Finally, I found this thread. My details sounded pretty much identical, kept reading to the end where the user had the following conclusion:
"To resolve this problem: on the remote (PC) computer, select Administrative Tools>Local Security Settings>Local Policies>User Rights Assignment, right-click on Access this computer from the network>Properties>Add Users or Groups, add everyone or any users you want to be able to access the computer from the network."
Seemed like such a reasonable solution (I had tried everything else). But when I went into my Windows XP, I could not find "Local Security Settings" under Adminstrative Tools. DANGIT!
After spending another 2 hours googling THIS issue, I pretty much concluded that this function (adjusting network access) can only be performed in Windows XP PROFESSIONAL!!! Unfortunately, I am running Windows XP HOME EDITION.
Sooo... after all that... my question is this:
Does anyone here know either --
a) How to do the above suggestion for Windows XP HOME Edition? or
b) After following all other suggestions... how the heck can I network my Powerbook G4 and my PC Windows XP HOME machines?!?!?!?!?
For the love of all that is good and right with the world, someone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me. The AD forums have always been good to me. Don't fail me now, faithful MAC users!
Thanking you all in advance.
-wizkid
PowerBook G4 12" [1GHz PowerPC, 1.25GB DDR SDRAM, 80GB]   Mac OS X (10.4.6)   GeForce FX Go5200 32MB, Matshita DVD-R UJ-816, Maxtor External Hard Drive [250GB, Firewire & USB 2.0

Answer 1

UPDATE: In the interest of helping all of you to assist me better, I've decided to write a more detailed post listing exactly what I've done so far. I'm hoping someone out here will have a solution for me. So here goes... this will be LONG, so please bear with me.
To re-cap, I want to network my Powerbook G4 (10.4.6) to my PC (Windows XP HOME EDITION).
As recommended here in the forums, I followed iFelix's guide to the tee. Below, I have re-iterated the steps that I took:
Before you begin, ensure both computers have their firewalls turned off, or have the relevant ports opened. These ports are UDP 137 and 138 and TCP 139, 548 and 427.
On my PC, I went to "Control Panel" >> "Windows Firewall" >> have Firewall on >> but clicked "Exceptions" tab >> under "Programs and Services" ticked off "File and Printer Sharing" >> to double-check ports are open, I highlighted this and hit "Edit" >> ports TCP 139, TCP 445, UDP 137, and UDP 138 are listed. >> I successfully opened the remaining ports TCP 548 and TCP 427 manually by following these instructions.
On my MAC, I went to "System Preferences" >> "Sharing" >> Under "Services" ticked off "Personal File Sharing" and "Windows Sharing" >> clicked over to "Firewall" tab to double-check ports are open, I highlighted these and hit "Edit" >> under "Personal File Sharing", ports TCP 548 and TCP 427 are listed >> under "Windows Sharing", ports TCP 139, UDP 137, and UDP 138 are listed.
Ensure that first each of the computers can access your network. Ensure that the IP address of each computer shares the same subnet, i.e. 192.168.0.x
Both my PC and MAC are under subnet 192.168.1.xxx
Ensure that the Windows PC has a user account with a username and a password and to know the shortname and password associated with the Mac.
Windows PC user account is "chelle" WITH password.
MAC shortname is also "chelle", also with password.
On MAC
System Preferences -> Sharing --> Ensure that Personal File Sharing and Windows File Sharing are checked
As stated above, I already did this when I was ensuring the correct ports were open.
On PC
Do not try and share the whole drive only share folders, trying to share a whole drive can result in unexpected errors.
I only want to share one folder (13GB of common files inside -- mostly photos, mpgs, and mp3s).
On the relevant folders you want to share, right click and select Sharing and Security...
You will then bring up a new window, which will be different depending on whether you are using simple file sharing or not.
Select Share this folder and give the folder a relevant name (it makes sense to avoid spaces and keep it all in lower case.)
As stated in my reply to rockewan above, I already did this too. The name of my desired shared folder is also called "chelle".
PC to see MAC
Start -> My Network Places
Click Add a network place
You will then start the Add Network Place Wizard
Click Next
Select Choose another network location (you have more than the choice indicated here) and click Next.
Type in "\\IP Address of Mac\Mac Username" (i.e. "\\192.168.1.xxx\chelle")
Then click Next.
You will then be asked to Type a name for this network place:
In this case the I have used the name of the Mac as the Network Place label.
Then click Next.
This will then add a folder to your My Network Places folder.
And you will be able to access the files in the folder on the Mac from the PC
Followed all of this and it worked splendidly. Unfortunately, I want the files on my PC to be accessible off of my MAC more than the other way around. Instructions for that below... last step!
MAC to see PC
Finder -> Go -> Connect to Server
You will now see the Connect To Serve window.
Type in smb://IP Address of PC (i.e. smb://192.168.1.xxx)
Click the + button for Finder to remember this location.
Click Connect
It will then attempt to connect to the PC
I FOLLOWED ALL OF THIS CORRECTLY... BUT THIS IS WHERE MY PROBLEM OCCURS...
When my Powerbook attempts to connect to the server, I receive the following prompt: The Finder cannot complete the operation because some data in "smb://192.168.1.xxx" could not be read or written. Error Code -36).
This is where I began to search the forums, and I tried many different ways to enter (i.e. using cifs://, using servername, etc.) but none of them worked for me.
I finally found this <a href="http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2006084" thread</a> in which the user eventually concluded at the very end that it was a Windows issue and had this solution:
"To resolve this problem: on the remote (PC) computer, select Administrative Tools>Local Security Settings>Local Policies>User Rights Assignment, right-click on Access this computer from the network>Properties>Add Users or Groups, add everyone or any users you want to be able to access the computer from the network."
Seemed reasonable enough (after I had tried everything else). But when I went into my Windows XP, I could not find "Local Security Settings" under "Adminstrative Tools".
So after spending another 2 hours googling THIS new issue, I pretty much concluded that this function (adjusting network access) can only be performed in Windows XP PROFESSIONAL Unfortunately, I am running Windows XP HOME EDITION.
Sooo... that's where I'm at now. You're all caught up.
My two huge questions are:
Does anyone here know either --
a) How to do the above suggestion for Windows XP HOME Edition? or
b) After following all other suggestions... how the heck can I network my Powerbook G4 and my PC Windows XP HOME machines?!?!??
Other users have been successful in networking MAC and WINDOWS XP HOME... so I got to believe there is a solution. If you've made it this far, thank you... now please tell me you have an answer!!
desperate to share,
-wizkid
PowerBook G4 12" [1GHz PowerPC, 1.25GB DDR SDRAM, 80GB] Mac OS X (10.4.6) GeForce FX Go5200 32MB, Matshita DVD-R UJ-816, Maxtor External Hard Drive [250GB, Firewire & USB 2.0