I just loaded a DVD-Movie. After checking the content of the file, Limewire wrote in the column of Status: Directory not found.

What does that mean?

Thanks for every help!!!

What did you do? Did you complete downlding it & then launch it? Someone else had a similar problem & after using VLC instead to play it, their problem was gone. VLC has in-built codecs, get it here: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ (choose nearest mirror site) Making VLC the default video player will enable you to preview & launch via LW.
BTW don't use your playlist to play videos, it's not intended for that purpose.

my problem is: after the download was completed, limewire starts automatically a control of the file-content. normally after that there is shown "ready" and i can play the file. but about the .avi or .mpg-files there was an error telling "directory not found" (or in german: verzeichnis nicht gefunden). after that the downloaded file isn't in my "download"-folder, there is just a preview-file in my "incomplete"-folder... so the file doesn't really exist on my computer though it was loaded for 100%...

In that situation I would probably delete my LW preferences folder. But just remembering all my settings. Try deleting your LW Preferences folder whilst LW is closed; instructions here: Fixes for Limewire The preferences might be corrupt or something. It sounds confused then. BTW did you use the Explore function from the LW Library window, use it on both the Saved Files folder & also the downld folder.

Did you search the computer using your OS search function for the file?

yes i tried to search the files on my computer and it just gave me the files in the "incomplete"-folder...

btw, i don't have a "preference"-folder...

Well as the forum rules specify as you obviously read before posting. You are supposed to tell us what type of computer & operating system you're using. For mac osx it's a file, but for windows, & mac os8&9 it's a folder (not sure about Linux.) Did you look at the link I gave above & see the samples of how to find your preferences. All versions of LW & most programs have preferences.

Well something's wrong. You don't have an incomplete & you don't have a complete file. Did you search just a portion of the file name. eg: John went to the market.avi -> search John went

i use the mac os x system.
in my limewire folder there are only and "download", an "incomplete"- folder, the programm-icon, one unix-file called "copying" and another called "source".

acutally i have an incomplete file, but i can't play it...

and about the steps to repare limewire, as i understood them right, its only for windows-system, right?

Yep those instructions are only for windows. OSX prefs are found here: /Users/your_username/Library/Preferences/LimeWire
But only delete it whilst LW is closed. Also make a note of any important settings you have because you'll need to reset them next time you open LW.

You have an incomplete, then drag & drop it onto VLC's icon in the Dock (open VLC 1st) & see if it will play. VLC may take a few secs to open it.
How large is the incomplete? Is it as large as the file is supposed to be? I'm wondering if it was a corrupt downld. If you have your popups set so no warnings are given for corrupt files, then you will not receive notice there may be a problem with it. Deleting your prefs will reset that. Else, go to LW's preferences menu (command & comma) View>Popups & tick option to set to default.

how can i know which of the preference settings are important? there are just some files i don't know which kind of. so what kinds of files do i have to save or make a note of?

i just tried to drag the incomplete file into the vlc-player: there is just a black screen and in the timetable the file is playing much faster than it should do... yes, the file is just as big as the correct file should be. thats why i'm wondering about.

i had this problem about three loaded files.. i don't think that they are all the three corrupt. this would be a great hazard, wouldn't it?

The most important setting is the downld location. Prefs>Saving.

Remember VLC might take several secs to open a large video file. Scroll to the middle of the video & see if it plays anything.

If your file is less than 500 MB in size then it doesn't sound like a proper movie anyway. Movie downlds should be around 700 MB or so.