Connection and download, if one works the other doesn't

[Stargaser]

I have Optimum Online and Norton Antivirus firewall. Just like many other users with the same ISP provider, I began to experience connection problems with my Limewire and Kazaa.

I still can't connect to my Kazaa However, after endless tinkering, I was able to establish connection to Limewire. Now I'm not computer savvy, I just played around with the many suggestions found on this board. At first I couldn't connect at all. Then after days of trying few things, I managed to get fair and then good connection. Today, I managed to get all the way up to the Turbo-charged and I hope that this will last.

After going through all this, I'm still faced with the same problem. I can't seem to download. Before, I used to have Limewire light. I got search results within seconds and was able to download songs within minutes. Now that I've updated to Limewire PRO I have more headaches than with the last version.

1. If I do get results, there are only few options, even for popular artsist like Madonna. Fewer search results often leads to "more sources" needed when I try to download a song that is very popular and should give me at least 100 hit results.

2. Limewire search used to be lightning quick. For some reason, now it takes forever. Is there a bug in the PRO version?

3. The biggest problem when I finally do receive some results, and click to download, my downloads display "Connecting..." message for every single download. It's been hours and the message is still the same. Does anyone have some words of wisdom on how I can address this problem.

Thank you in advance.

[Only A Hobo]

When you close down Limewire completely, make sure you have nothing in your download window ...awaiting sourses, or needing more sourses. The Mac version will not close unless the window is empty, but I believe the Windows version will. Next time you start it, it should load up properly and quickly, and work better!

Please tell us if this helps.

Often when popular songs have very high file counts they will not download for a lot of users, and I think they might be bogus files put there to messup the searches. I seldom go for a file with more than 10 or 20 sourses myself.

[Stargaser]

Only A Hobo

Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately your suggestion did not work. I still have fewer search results and when I do get something, I can't seem to download it.

In Limewire lite, even results with 1-2 people per song were downloadable. Now, results with 17-30 hits per song can give me "needs more sources" message. Usually after the search I get the following cascade for songs with fewer #...
1. Connecting..
2. Waiting for busy host for 15-30 min
3. Need more sources
4. Looking for more sources
5. Awaiting sources

Songs with greater number of feedback 50-150 tend to have Connecting... message hours upon hours until they time out or "need more sources" appears again.

I don't know if this is the problem with Limewire PRO or has something to do with the fact that many people have lost their connection recently. I've read that other posters seem to have fixed the problem. Is it just me or are people still having download issues even after they managed to connect with great speed (excellent to turbo-charged)?

I do appreciate any feedback. On the side note, it's not just the Limewire that's affected, Kazaa seems to be having the same problem. I still can't get the connection there.

[Only A Hobo]

It looks as if I overlooked the fact that you are with Optimum. I see you have found the thread about them, and I suggest you hang in there until their problems are sorted.

You could also PM whitezeo and see what news he has. He works for optimum, I understand.

I suspect that the problem lies with Optimum, if my other suggestion did not work.

[Stargaser]

Only A Hobo

Thank you for all your recommendations and support. I'm hoping that things will work themselves out.