This has to be a vista thing, because I don't get this problem while running windows xp.

My max connections and the "get up to x files at a time" are locked at 20 or below. If you change it to over 20, it reverts it back to 20 and makes an error sound when you confirm the changes.

Does anyone know a work-around to this problem?

Upgrade to any version of XP.

Unfortunately, XP didn't exist when BearShare was last updated by the original, legitimate
company, and so it reverts to defaults for Win98. I'm still looking for a workaround for that, and
when I find it I'll pass the info on to the guy who writes the BearStart program.