I have the same problem with downloads dropping to 0 kbs then eventually having to hit resume every 5 seconds to finally restart, then drops off...whole bunch of 99% files here...not giving up though...

system (new) 3.0 ghz (hyperthread), 1.5 gb ram, xp pro (media), router dlink dl-624, adsl (no throttle back according to isp(telus), (telus claims 1.35 mbs down 750 up ....sometimes actually get that but not usually)....software firewalls ALWAYS disabled for LW, and router upnp no proxy or forwarding required...don't know what else I could tell you all.

Have tried both latest and rolled back to LW pro 4.8.1...latest java and restart old downloads works on restart....well at least they are sitting there connecting for a while then I can start my RESUME

As a later addition and more investigation (having spent the last couple of days reading the forums)....it appears that to "wake up" the download to continue what sometimes seems to help and end the forever connecting state is to re-search the same title or subject search, and hit download on the search results on the files already indicating that they are being downloaded....by the way: running a software packet sniffer and getting way different results from the advanced...dropping packets all the time, and losing address from nodes...but showing no time to live hops...don't understand this unless the nodes are shielded?..?