Okay, I assume you've disabled the built-in firewall fo Windows XP and you use only the one you mentioned (with LW allowed to access the internet).
Your freezing of LW still buffles me.........you could try to uninstall LW and all Java versions. Then go and download the Java offline installer (JRE) 1.5.0_05:
http://java.sun.com/products/archive..._05/index.html
Install the Java and then reinstall LW. Again, as long as the freezing problem isn't solved, I do not think that it makes sense to concern with the speed problem. It might be that the speed and freeze problem are related, but to find out we have to get rid of the freezing first...
Try my suggestion and post back......
Just another suggestion.......after you tried the Java change and the freezing stops but the speed problem persists.....
Did you check to ensure UPnP is enabled on your router?
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...516#post179516 Linksys UPnP setting (click on link)
Depending on your linksys model, it might be worth manual port forwarding it. You'll find your model here
http://portforward.com/routers.htm