[CentOS] Easiest way to get samba up and working for Windows users?

I was back onsite and trying it again, in vain. Copied the conf from
another site's working setup and dumped directly, recreated with the
same names and all. No go.

So again removed and install samba again, made a blank conf file, fire
up SWAT and did the most basic config.

Even chmod 777 the directory.

Conf file
[global]
        workgroup = MKSC52
        netbios name = MKSC52
        security = SHARE
        log level = 2
        os level = 35

[staff]
        comment = Staff Share
        path = /home/staff
        valid users = jackie @staff


I've changed one of the Windows machine workgroup to a fresh one as
above, in case the existing WIndows 2000 domain controller was somehow
interfering.  The pc name was also changed to the user's name. But no
joy either.

But at least Samba is logging something after that

# [2009/03/06 17:38:31, 2] smbd/reply.c:reply_special(324)
  netbios connect: name1=MKS2009C52      name2=JACKIE

[2009/03/06 17:38:31, 2] smbd/reply.c:reply_special(331)
  netbios connect: local=mks2009c52 remote=jackie, name type = 0

[2009/03/06 17:40:31, 2] smbd/process.c:timeout_processing(1363)
  Closing idle connection

On the windows side, there was a brief pause before Windows tells me I
have no permission to access the network resource. No prompt for
password.