This guide has been superceded by the AutoInstall version http://cymplecy.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/auto-install-a-simple-samba-setup/ but it still shows the process needed to go through 
To access the files on your RPi over your network and to stop worrying about finding its IP address, you need to install and configure something called Samba – but don’t worry- I’ve made this easy peasy
1st off -need to run LXTerminal and then type
sudo apt-get install samba
(Answer any question it asks with OK or Y)
Once its installed – we need another thing installing – so do this
sudo apt-get install samba-common-bin
And then run this command
sudo smbpasswd -a pi
You will be asked to enter the pi password twice – use raspberry as the password.
Finally use
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
And copy and paste the following to replace the existing file contents
#======================= Global Settings ======================= [global] workgroup = WORKGROUP server string = mypi server netbios name = mypi dns proxy = no #### Debugging/Accounting #### log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m max log size = 1000 syslog = 0 panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d ####### Authentication ####### security = user map to guest = pi #======================= Share Definitions ======================= [homes] comment = Home Directories browseable = yes guest ok = yes read only = no create mask = 0775 directory mask = 0775 writeable = yes guest account = pi [public] path = / guest ok = yes guest account = ftp browseable = yes read only = no create mask = 0777 directory mask = 0777 writeable = yes admin users = everyone
Save the file in nano (Ctrl-O, answer Y and then Ctrl-X) and finally issue the following command
sudo /etc/init.d/samba restart
Your RPi should now be set to be reffered to as \\mypi from any windows machine on the same network.
You will be asked to logon the 1st time you use it after every computer restart – just use username pi password raspberry
If you wish to change the name of your RPi to say darkstar then just replace mypi with darkstar in the server name and netbios name lines
Flippin’ glorious. Works perfectly!
Works like a dream, thanks saved me searching google on how to do it
Well, I’ve done plenty with samba and windows networking (I use a Debian file server to windows clients at home), and this should work, just by looking at your config. The other available option is to just use security = share. That works best if you have multiple shares with different permissions. One thing to note is that if you have different NetBIOS and DNS names, your server won’t be accessible by “mypi” if the client you’re connecting from doesn’t have NetBIOS support (i.e, most out of the box linux installs). Of course, in that instance, you could just use the DNS name (raspbian).
“The other available option is to just use security = share”
I couldn’t read/write the pi folder when I did that – please send me an smb.conf that works with that and I’ll be very happy
One thing to note is that if you have different NetBIOS and DNS names, your server won’t be accessible by “mypi” if the client you’re connecting from doesn’t have NetBIOS support (i.e, most out of the box linux installs). Of course, in that instance, you could just use the DNS name (raspbian).”
Good point
Where is the DNS name held and I’ll change that as well 
In order to make the pi directory writable if “security = share”, you need to add “admin users = pi” (without quotes) under the options where you’re defining the share.
To change the dns hostname of the raspberry pi, follow the instructions in this video:
Changing security = share and addding admin users = pi didn’t work for me – could you post a working smb.conf with securitiy =share please
you are a genius
thanks
worked like a treat thanks Mate
used lots of guides with problems this one worked perfectly many thanks