I suspect its a Win XP problem but here goes:
Gentoo Linux Router with samba
I can see all the relevant directories from a win98 machine
When i try to connect with my (new) laptop running XP Home
It sees the SAMBA server ( + string specified in Smb.conf)
trying to connect to it
i get

\\Router is not accessible.You might not have permission to use this network
resource. contact the administrator.......

You were not connected because a duplicate name exists on the network. Go to
System in CP to change computer name and try again

1. there isnt a duplicate name
2. Ive added the new laptop username using both adduser and smbpasswd (
using the smae password)
3. I can SSH to the router ( using Putty) and log in with the laptop
username
4. ive edited the registry
requirestrongkey"=dword:00000000
"requiresignorseal"=dword:00000000
(were both 00001)
5. a samba.newlaptop log file has appeared in /var/log/ but is empty.
6. Nothing is appearing in /var/log/everything

I think the problem is at the XP end. Anyone know what it might be?