Java 1.3 is definitely the wrong version to try. Use either Java 1.4.2 or 1.5 as in the above link I gave for Fixes for LW.

Do a search on your computer for limewire & see how many versions you have installed. You may be having problems b/c you have more than one version with one silently running in the background.

ANother option is to use the 'Other' installer as it's refered to at the download site. eg: See Here about other version. You just unzip it & use it.

By the way if you have a registry cleaner it would be worth giving your computer a clean. eg: HERE (click on link) (Some of those are free I think from memory.)