Okay, I have seen this message a few times from different users with no responses. I responded to another user's complaint basically to say that I was experiencing the same problem but as yet had found no solutions. I am running Limewire Pro 2.8.6, installed today, on a MacG3, OS 8.6 with an added external hardrive. I am connected via Cox high speed internet through a Toshiba PCX1100.
I have a few problems and am really unhappy with Limewire right now. I was using the old, free version, with no problems as long as I stuck to mp3 audio files and didn't get to excited about downloading video files since I was only once or twice able to download a video file.
Today I got a message saying I had to upgrade to 2.8.6 so I went ahead and paid my $9.50 and downloaded Pro. It sucked from the start. First, I was excited. I did a search for a ***** and ********* video, ********* *****, using the title, and video file option. I also did a search just for ***** and *********- video, and *************-video, and*************-video. Amazingly, I got one hit for each search. WOW! But when I tried to launch any of the files I got a message saying I was missing software that was needed to view the file. Huh? I had Quick Time movieplayer. What else did I need? This led me on a pointless expedition trying to figure out what was missing in my Quick Time folder. I wound up just downloading QT 6 again and re-installing it. Still, I got that error. Than I realized that all these files were surprisingly the same size, 67K. Also, they all had the exact same wording as my search. Bogus files. What is the point of these?
I figured the added search options (which really aren't new---most of them were in the free version--you just had to look harder for them) would cut down on the ridiculous amount of irrelevant hits. I entered the artist's name, album title, song title, and STILL I came up with 300+ irrelevant results because the word 'love' was in the title. I discovered any time I did a video search, no matter what it was, I would get one bogus hit such as the one I described a few sentences back. But worst of all was that somehow, while trying to figure out how to reload a search (which I so far haven't discovered) I messed up the monitor fields and lost the 'name' info. When I do a search, the quality, the bit rate, file type, size,chat icons all show. Everything but the most pertinent information to me. The file name!!! HELLO?! All the tabs drag around like pieces in one of those puzzles where you move the tiles around a little plastic square. Occasionally I am able to get the letters 'na...' to show and some of the first few letters of the file name, "the bea...."..etc.
I have seen quite a few post regarding this but no answers! I am really hating that I paid for this crap and aggravation. How do I get my money back? I didn't love Limewire to begin with but as a Mac user I don't have a lot of choices. BTW, how do you reload a search so you don't have to re-type all the info when your results suck? Which so far they have. I have tried to be as specific as possible in my heading and my description of the problem(s). PLEASE someone give me an answer! I KNOW I'm not the only one having this problem. BTW, the Limewire PRO PDF user 'manual' is crap that you shouldn't waste any hard drive space on. Unless you are a total idiot you will figure out most of the info it provides on your own. Also, the FAQ page on Limewire PRO site sucks and is really hard to read. The headings are confusing sentence fragments and there is a ridiculous amount of empty space between links. These folks design software. Why can't they design a simple FAQ page for Pete's Sake?

I also posted this in the previous thread, 'search results disappeared', but I like to be thorough. Someone in above mentioned thread referenced a 'repair' file. I looked but found none in my Limewire folder. I randomly clicked on a file called 'video.props' and this automatically opened Limewire. I did a search for audio-********** *****, and all the information was back the way it was supposed to be. I'm not sure if 'video.props' had anything to do with this or if it was because previously I had been opening Limewire via the alias in the Apple Menu. The other annoying thing that happened the last few times I opened Limewire was I had to go through the new user interface set-up again. I would still love a reply in case this happens again. Also, I addressed some other issues I had such as the missing 'reload search' function which is so incredibly useful.
Thanks! MP

Well, to start with: If you would take the time to do a search of these forums (there's a search button at the top of the page) you will find answers to most, if not all, of your questions. I think people get tired of repeating themselves. That may be why you are not seeing too many responses lately. However, as you are new to these forums, I will try to help where I can. I don't use LimeWire much these days as I am just as frustrated with with the lack of successful downloads as most others are. But, I will see what I can do.

1) You may have been notified to upgrade, however, one is never required to pay for Pro. The only difference in Pro is no ads and you get "support".

2) Missing software to play the file. That has nothing to do with LimeWire. There are many videos that were created on PC that cannot play on Mac. Sometimes there are workarounds, but it all depends on the individual file. (I am a Mac user and use QuickTime also. I have/had alot of files that just wouldn't work.) There are many posts regarding Macs and playing videos.

3) The 67K files are bogus. The file size should be the first clue. There are many posts regarding them. I usually ignore them. You can also make note of the IP address and block it in LimeWire's options.

4) I've found that all of the search options are pretty much useless. I just use the first text box for all of my information in my search. Usually comes up with closer matches that way.

5) The missing information/columns in the Search window. If you command-click (or maybe option-click) on the bar where the # or quality columns are, a menu should pop-up where you can check the box(es) of what you would like listed in your results. As I said, I don't use it much anymore, so not absolutely positive of the keys to click. Try searching the forums for that answer. Or just try each one. If the Name is there, but you just can't read it, you can re-size each column by holding your cursor over the break between the columns and then click and hold and slide to the right or left until you can read what you need.

6) You can do a re-search by doing command-click on the tab of the search you want to repeat. You, again, will get a menu where you can choose to repeat the search, stop the search, etc.

7) As for the refund, FAQ's or the manual... can't help you there.

Good luck.

Julie, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. However, instead of blaming the frustrated users for failing to search the forum in advance perhaps you should read the posts more carefully. I pride myself on being a good researcher and a good problem-solver. It irks me to have to resort to a forum for help only to get needled for failing to do preliminary research. I did in fact do several searches of the various forums with few results for my particular query. I found it more useful to browse recent post for mention of similar problems. No one likes to repeat themselves. However, if the information is redundant, by this I mean repeatedly failing to be of use but repeatedly being offered up as a solution, it is counterproductive to blame the frustrated folks who naturally will post a new querie in hopes of a different solution.

For instance, I went into great detail describing how, in my attempts to get the reload command to pop up I dragged the tabs all over the window like puzzle pieces. This is how I lost the information in the first place. Command click functions aren't working in my software. While you may have been repeating previous solutions regarding the command click function you were repeating information that had already failed to be of help to a previous poster. Here is a link to the series of posts I read on the subject before posting my own querie. http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18485&highlight=command +click

This took place only a couple of weeks ago, and you suggested the same solution to that person back then. It didn't work for him/her either. I'm not critizing you for failing to provide the answer. I just think that before you gave me the lecture on searching the archives you should have searched your memory banks. Then you would have realized that although this problem was previously addressed it was not actually resolved. Obviously there is some sort of bug in the new software that needs to be worked out. There may not be an instant solution. In this case, multiple posts on the problem should bring it to the attention of someone who can solve it.

Most of the issues I raised in the post were observations (albeit of a ranting nature) I had made about Limewire. I'm not sure how my comments regarding the quality of Limewire were construed as questions. Careful reading will reveal that I had come to the same conclusions as yourself regarding the bogus files, missing software, lousy search functions, etc.

In fact, I followed up my original post with a post announcing that I had fixed the empty information field problem on my own and how I did it.
My only real problem now lies in the reload search function. If anyone has a solution to this that doesn't involve control click/command click, click and drag, etc., I welcome a response. My guess is it is just a bug and I will have to live with it or re-install the old version and forget the $9.50.

Okee doke...

Though you may just have been ranting, it sure seemed like you were wanting help. (I guess my reading and comprehension skills are lacking.) I tried to help. Sorry.

I tried to appoach each item you brought up with what works for me (or what I have read) to get rid of them (or the frustrations of them). I didn't see your post that you had fixed your display problems as I was replying at the same time.

As for the link to a previous post that I had replied to, it turned out to be a different problem. That poster was getting NO columns. No Quality, #, Name, Size... nothing. I didn't realize that at first, so, no, control-click wouldn't help in that case.

I am also using Mac, OS 9.1, G4, Cox high speed internet. I am using LimeWire v2.8.2 not 2.8.6 so I don't know if it doesn't work anymore, but I just ran LimeWire to confirm for me: To do a re-search, I command-click on the Tab heading for the particular search item I want to repeat. A menu comes up and the option to Repeat Search is there. But, I know, that's not the answer you are looking for. So, feel free to ignore it. Maybe it'll help someone else. If this is a bug in 2.8.6, then, again, I am sorry. I wasn't aware of that. As 2.8.6 seems to be quite "buggy" in alot of other ways, others have suggested rolling back to an older version, as I read you are considering (Yes, I do read the posts). Most are suggesting 2.7.13, but I, personally, have not had any of these problems with 2.8.2. Just a lack of successful downloads. But, I think that's pretty standard in all versions now.

I hope you find a version that works for you.