connecting
 

up until recently limewire has been working fine. lately, when i begin to download a file, it comes up at the bottom, showing that it is "connecting", but it then stays "connecting" and does not start to download at all. i have had this problem with all the files i have tried to download. help please.

Files that sit connecting for ages & then need more sources are often fake files. Check out these 2 threads for more info & tips (always check video files with Bitzi before download;)).
Fake files showing up in search results
How to find music

If this is happening with every single file that you try to download, 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.