per suggestions in this thread, I uninstalled 1.3.1 of Java and installed the new one (1.4.1). I also upgraded LimeWire from 3.2.0 to 3.2.1. And it still hangs. Not only that, but it also brought my whole XP system down last time ! This is not what I was hoping for.

Also of note may be that when LimeWire runs and then hangs/runs/hangs etc. it also kills my MSN messenger connection and Outlook can no longer send/receive. Once I kill LimeWire everything else is fine.