samba - Jan 2003 - Can't change directory to /public (Permission denied)-Illogical error in Samba 2.2.6

The following error occured persistently, when trying to access a world
rw-able directory public from Win2000 (samba version 2.2.6):

(log file:)

[2003/01/01 17:45:57, 0] smbd/service.c:make_connection(597)
    harm (192.168.0.3) Can't change directory to /public (Permission denied)

The following is the share in the smb.conf file:
[public]
	comment = public share: read & write, no execute
	path = /public
	read only = No
	guest ok = Yes

Allthough the file permissions for the user Harm and administrator were
set to rw:
Permissions:rwxrwxrw-
owner: root
group: root

Allthough Harm and administrator could open public when logged in
locally, samba could see but not open the directory, when the users were
logged in on the Win2000 machine, allthought they were able to see their
own /home/Harm and /home/adminisitrator home directories.

Once I set the Execute permission to Others, Harm and administrator were
able to open the /public directory.
Permission: rwxrwxrwt

I think they should be able to open it with rw-permissions only.

Is this an error or am I wrong ?

------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNEX: Full smb.conf file:

    # Samba config file created using SWAT
# from localhost.localdomain (127.0.0.1)
# Date: 2003/01/01 19:41:17

# Global parameters
[global]
	workgroup = TOKYO
	netbios name = HARM
	server string = Samba Server
	encrypt passwords = Yes
	log file = /usr/local/samba/var/log.%m
	max log size = 50
	socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192
	dns proxy = No
	printer admin = administrator

[printers]
	comment = All Printers
	path = /var/spool/samba
	printable = Yes
	browseable = No

[Canon LBP 350 Harm]
	comment = Local Printer installed on Harm
	path = /var/spool/samba
	printable = Yes
	printing = cups

[print$]
	path = /usr/local/samba/printers
	admin users = administrator
	write list = administrator

[public]
	comment = public share: read & write, no execute
	path = /public
	read only = No
	guest ok = Yes

[Home Directories]
	comment = Home directories of all users
	path = /home
	read only = No

Harm Kirchhoff wrote:
> The following error occured persistently, when trying to access a world
> rw-able directory public from Win2000 (samba version 2.2.6):
>
> (log file:)
>
> [2003/01/01 17:45:57, 0] smbd/service.c:make_connection(597)
>    harm (192.168.0.3) Can't change directory to /public (Permission 
> denied)
>
> The following is the share in the smb.conf file:
> [public]
>     comment = public share: read & write, no execute
>     path = /public
>     read only = No
>     guest ok = Yes
>
> Allthough the file permissions for the user Harm and administrator were
> set to rw:
> Permissions:rwxrwxrw-
> owner: root
> group: root
>
> Allthough Harm and administrator could open public when logged in
> locally, samba could see but not open the directory, when the users were
> logged in on the Win2000 machine, allthought they were able to see their
> own /home/Harm and /home/adminisitrator home directories.
>
> Once I set the Execute permission to Others, Harm and administrator were
> able to open the /public directory.
> Permission: rwxrwxrwt
>
> I think they should be able to open it with rw-permissions only.
>
> Is this an error or am I wrong ?
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ANNEX: Full smb.conf file:
>
>    # Samba config file created using SWAT
> # from localhost.localdomain (127.0.0.1)
> # Date: 2003/01/01 19:41:17
>
> # Global parameters
> [global]
>     workgroup = TOKYO
>     netbios name = HARM
>     server string = Samba Server
>     encrypt passwords = Yes
>     log file = /usr/local/samba/var/log.%m
>     max log size = 50
>     socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192
>     dns proxy = No
>     printer admin = administrator
>
> [printers]
>     comment = All Printers
>     path = /var/spool/samba
>     printable = Yes
>     browseable = No
>
> [Canon LBP 350 Harm]
>     comment = Local Printer installed on Harm
>     path = /var/spool/samba
>     printable = Yes
>     printing = cups
>
> [print$]
>     path = /usr/local/samba/printers
>     admin users = administrator
>     write list = administrator
>
> [public]
>     comment = public share: read & write, no execute
>     path = /public
>     read only = No
>     guest ok = Yes
>
> [Home Directories]
>     comment = Home directories of all users
>     path = /home
>     read only = No
>
>
the execute bit on a directory is for browsing it. if you haven't it set 
for world, only user and group can browse it.