I'll reply to the intemperate Madamimadam. I began by asking the mildest of questions and was roundly told that he was indifferent as to why his solution worked. Now it seems I must answer his own question for him to prove something (whether to him, the world or myself). We cannot change the fact that Limewire is based on Java 1.3.1 so whether the machine actually has Java 1.4.1 on board would seem to be irrelevant to the operation of Limewire. Indeed, that would always be the case when Limewire is running on older operating systems not upgraded to include the later Java upgrade.

Java 1.4.1 (actually 1.4.2 is available now) is bundled into the later Mac OSs. If this component was, for some reason, missing or corrupted this could inhibit the working of the general operating system. The symptoms might be a slower than usual operation of some applications or problems with memory allocation, etc. So reinstalling Java 1.4.1 might be useful to cure some general OS inefficiencies. However, let us consider what the download actually comprises. It is an upgrade and a series of fixes for earlier versions of Java. So, when you download a copy of Java 1.4.1 you are also downloading components of and improvements to, Java 1.3.1 and Java 1.2.2. Given that some inefficiencies in the earlier versions of Java are being retrospectively fixed, this may also enhance the operation of the machine in general and of Limewire in particular. However, since the purpose of this forum is to offer advice in an appropriate sequence, I consider it better to begin with general fixes like reinstalling Limewire and repairing permissions before going on to the more remote possibilities apparently favoured by Madamimadam as the first and only defensible step.

I apologise to the forum for going off-topic but, since the other contributor has two personalities, one discourteous and the other potentially constructive, I shall address these remarks to the latter and hope for the best.