samba - Jul 2005 - loss of cups printer definition - suse linux pro 9.1 & samba 3.0.9-2.6-suse - small lan

On a working printer & system 
I needed to change the printer definition on one of two systems each
with a printer [samsung laser and hplj4].
Yast2-printer stalled at 50% [loading configuration] and had to be
closed.
When I tried again the cups daemon died when trying to save the printer
definition.

I found that /etc/cups/ was empty!
Re-installing the printer function in Yast2 did not do any good.

Is this a result of the samba lan? or some other interaction of the
systems?

Has anybody experienced this problem?
Any ideas and suggestions.
If yes could you share your experience?

Thanks
-- 
Cheers,
Serge [Naggar Consulting]