Windows 7 - Sharing is Backwards with Mac?

I have two windows desktops and a mac mini all connected to a 16 port switch. All can ping each other just fine.

Both Windows machines are running Windows 7 Pro 64-bit - One machine I use as my file and media server, with file sharing turned on in Network & Sharing Center; the other is simply a workstation, I have file sharing turned off on that machine. They are in the same homegroup, and I have no trouble reading & writing from workstation to server. Mac mini is running Snow Leo 10.6.6. All machines can access other network resources (printer, Internet).

Using Mac, I can connect to the workstation (using Finder's Connect to Server), but I cannot connect to the server! This is backwards Macintosh!

I can access the user folder on the workstation from the Mac, and nothing else b/c file sharing is turned off on the workstation. But the Mac doesn't even connect to the server machine in Connect to Server. I get a Mac error saying check the IP address which leads me to think network related, but both computers can ping OK.

I have Norton 360 on the workstation and Windows Firewall on the server. Is this why? I wouldn't think Windows FW would block the Mac but allow the Windows workstation? Like I said, homegroup and even direct connecting to the share works from the workstation.

Just not the Mac.

Any ideas?
Thanks
SAM

I am still unable to access with Mac, and now have confirmed the ability to access server files with another Windows 7 pro 64 bit machine - a laptop.

Why can windows access these files but Mac can't?

Homegroups is pretty much made for Windows 7 networks only, you should set up a workgroup instead. Although there are ways to have a workgroup running along side a Homegroup it usually works best to set up a Workgroup in a mixed Op system network. And it's possible that Norton is causing problems also.

If you download the .smb file in the link below it shows you how to set up a Homegroup along side a workgroup and allows for Mac sharing with a Homegroup.

Download details: Windows 7 & HomeGroup: Sharing with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and other operating systems