If anyone could help me that'd be great.

That's easy: You won't get any results with LimeWire 5.3.6, because it doesn't exist. The most recent version is 2.6.3

I meant version 2.6.3.

If you are connected to the network, you should be able to search it. If you cannot connect to the network (if the small red button to the left of the status line at the bottom of the LW window does not turn green), there's not much you can do.

I am connected to the network, right now it says there are 100 files / 57,051 MB available. so i know i'm connected. I'm behind a firewall and i was wondering if that could be the issue?

Nope. Once you are connected. Searching should not be a problem. - Maybe the files you were looking for simply weren't available.

Does 100 files seem like a small amout of files available? i had the trouble with gettig connected with the previous version of LW and i dont remember what a "normal" or good number of files was. and if that is few files is there any way to get better connections?

That number is misleading you like many users. The limewire developers wanted to take it out completely, but many users complained that they wanted to keep it. The only indicator for the number of available files is the number of search results you receive.

well i finally got results today. first time in 3 weeks. it just says runnng the gnutella network, which is what i was used to thats why i didnt remember how many files was normal. thanks for your help, it was very informative.

well i got results--good. every thing i try to download turs out requery sent--bad. i tryed files with multiple users, some with only one, some mp3's, some videos. all requery sent. i've never had this problem until now. any more helpful info?