I've been using limewire consistently for about.. 6 months, downloaded over 100 songs probably, now all of a sudden, no matter what I type in search it just gives me this:
xxxx [cd rip]
xxxx(cd rip)
xxxx= the exact thing I put in the search engine, lower case all spaced.

I really don't want to have to reinstall it and what-not.. is this a common problem? is there quick fixes?

Probably connected directly to a spammer ultrapeer. Disconnect from the longest connecting ones via your connections window. But one at a time because you will lose connection after each one for a few minutes until LW finds a new stable Ultrapeer to connect to.

Just booted it up today, checked for the 6th time probably, and all of a sudden it worked.. thanks anyway !

Great to hear. It's my guess it was the particular ultrapeers you were connected to. And yes, it is possible to be connected directly to a spammer. This may last for a day or several days up to a week at a time unfortunately. Only answer seems to be to 'force' them off.