USB modems have the drawback of utilising both the comp's cpu & power. This can result in inconsistent results. But that can depend & doesn't affect everybody.

Update your Java: Java 1.5 (take the JRE)

Is your modem a Mentor Annex? You may need to forward a port here using port 6346 but then I didn't think most usb modems required this, so it might not apply to you.

Do you use the Resume/Find Sources button at all? If you do & use it on too many files then yes it will have that effect on LW. It will also result in all your files queueing for much, much longer & slow LW & your comp down.

Do manual searches; ie: type in the search to find your topics or to help continue incomplete files.

It's always best to wait for LW to settle down before doing anything with it. Depending on how many incomplete files & shared files you have this can take some time.

Here's some hints: 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.