It doesn't sound good to be happening frequently. It happened to me when I jumped back to an earlier version. I don't suppose you have more than one version of LW on your comp. Which version of LW are you using?
Some preventative measures:
1. Update your Java:
Java 1.4.2 (click on link)
2. Make sure any firewalls you have are configured to allow both LW & Java access. Here's instructions for some of the most common firewalls:
http://www.limewire.com/english/content/firewalls.shtml
3. Get the newest version of LW:
http://www.limewire.com/english/content/download.shtml
4. Don't use the Resume button on too many files. In fact I don't recommend using it on more than a few per session.
5. After opening LW allow LW to settle down before doing anything with it such as searching or using the media player.
6. Here's some hints on optimising LW: A well set-up LW can start to automatically continue its dwnlding after it's settled down perhaps 2 out of 3 times you open LW.
Optimising LW & Maximising Uplds & Dwnlds A (1st post only) & also
Part B which is even better & last & least are
search & dwnld hints. The latter one I've been thinking about re-writing for some time. That's just for playing it safe. eg- I show all speeds & qualities.
7. Don't touch the files in the LW incomplete folder whilst LW is not open!!! If you add or delete any files to the incomplete folder it may very well corrupt LW's dwnld preferences. Stay away from it. If you want to delete files from that folder you can do it from the LW Library window & selecting the incomplete folder & having a very, very careful look at any files you want to delete. BUT I warn you to be very wary of doing this b/c once they're deleted they are gone for good. You can't get them back. So ONLY do this IF you are 100% sure you want to & have selected the correct folder & the correct file. No room for mistakes.
Present situation: You can try to resume your files from the LW Library window & selecting the incomplete folder but in most cases doing this will result in them starting from zero%. Better is to do a search using LW for sources for them & re-selecting them to dwnld & seeing if they will continue from where they were. No guarantees this will work but better than using the ominous Resume function in the LW Library window.