So the problem with Limewire started a while ago when I could connect, search, and download only the first file I looked at. After that, the connection meter dropped and each subsequent time the firewall symbol appeared and the bars would never fill. When I uninstalled it and got a new version, same scenario, worked once, everything stopped working after. However, Ares worked fine and I had very good download speeds (100+ KB/s).

The past couple weeks though Ares was connecting, and uploading just fine, but I was getting download speeds of 3 KB/s, and no change in Limewire.

So then I installed the beta version of Limewire. Now originally I think my prior version had some sort of issue with Java because that was the only thing that could coincide with the timeline (basically Limewire worked exceptional for a long time and then I started having issues). After installing it and booting it up, same thing, red bars and firewall. However, after a longer delay then it used to be, the firewall symbol disappeared and I eventually got to full bars (though it did occasionally go to all green except one from time to time). I was excited thinking it had been fixed. However, the same thing as Ares. Search worked fine (finally, like I said it wasn't working so it was a start) and I was uploading files, but each files I downloaded went to needs more sources.

On Ares, it's the same deal. Search works fine as well as upload. The only difference is occasionally one file in my queue will download 1% of the file and then stop downloading.
However, it seems to only occur when I restart the program. And the dload kicks in about 5 mins. in and then nothing the whole time I leave the program on without re-opening the program.

Just so everyone understands:

The Good:
-Can get search results all the time and not just once anymore
-Can upload files (and this happens almost instantly when I connect, it doesn't take a while)
-Can connect to the network (though it takes a lil longer on Limewire, Ares it's practically instant, again I'm running the Beta version but the version I had prior {I believe it was .13 not .15} wouldn't even let me get this far. Just one day out of the blue even though it worked fantastic before)

The Bad:
-Need more Resources on Limewire all the time
-Download only a very small portion per start on Ares

Couple other things worth mentioning, in Ares for each file it has like 200+ users, but most of them are idle. However, I did look through and there's usually double digit users who all stay stuck at "Connecting...". Sometimes it would also say Forcing TCP under status or something like that but I'm not 100% sure I'll see if it comes up again.


And here's the real kicker. My sister's computer downstairs connects no problem. She doesn't even have the ports forwarded to her IP address on the network and she downloads everything no problem. Her situation hasn't changed this whole time from when I couldn't even connect to now when I can't download.

So it's gotta be somethin on my computer and not the network. I just can't figure out what.

I run Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware and utilize the Immunize feature on S&D almost after every update.

If there's programs you'd like to see if I have (i.e. versions of Java etc.) please let me know.

This thing is driving me NUTS! I just wanna be able to download again.

And one final note, I know the files I'm downloading aren't the fake files. I can spot those fairly easily like when it has 80 users but connection speed is only cable/dsl and it's got a much larger or smaller file size than it should have. So it is 100% not that.

Try this: Delete LW's preferences folder when LW's properly closed. See point 3 here & also point 2 if you've used older versions of LW in the past (there could be a folder in either location).
Fixes for LimeWire
This will kill all of your settings within options, you'll have to go back through afterwards & reset things. If you're not sure of your settings, go through LW's tools > options & write them all down, so that you can reset things later.

What version of Java are you using? In LW Help > About LimeWire will show you.

Last time I posted I had a problem that almost identical post was used and I already did it, no help.

Again, the problem is with both Ares and Limewire.

A couple updates though, I'm running Limewire and it actually connected to 4 hosts (even though it had over 40 listed, I used to connect to 8-12 users per file). The bandwidth would peak at 22 kb/s but then drop. So then I booted up Network Magic and it kept telling me I was disconnected from the network and then reconnected. So it would only disconnect for maybe a second, and then reconnect. This conincided with the bandwidth gain and loss. Each time it disconnected, it dropped to 3kb. Then it would slowly regain strength and then when it got to 18-22 kb/s it would disconnect and go back down. Now mind you only Network Magic said this, not Limewire. However, the disconnects never lasted long enough to the point where the download reached 0 kb/s. When I closed Limewire, the disconnect/reconnect issue disappeared. I just don't know what the hell is causing it.

BTW, I've only had Network Magic installed a couple weeks so I don't think it's that, but it could be. I normally don't have it running though, I just did it for a test.

Also, I'm running Java 1.6.0_01. However, that was the version the beta installed for me. Prior to that i had 1.4.2 or somethin close to that.

Some people have had trouble with Java 1.6.0_01 but I'm using it & haven't had any probs at all.

You had port forwarding set up before, you could try that again.I can't find your router listed here...is it the BEFSR411 or BEFSR41?? Have a look at the router list here, you'll find detailed instructions.
PortForward.com - Free Help Setting up Your Router or Firewall

Also try reducing your upload & download bandwidth a little. In LW tools > options > advanced > performance & disable ultrapeer capabilities.

You could also try this tip: Tip: Purge the Downloads Queue!