if a connection (modem etc.) fails and one gets the red circle (not sharing) must LW be restarted or is there a button or menu item that will restart the green circle once the connection is up again.

Hi again gfox

for the little that it's worth, I just unplugged my ethernet for a few seconds until all my connections dropped (apologies to any connected), then plugged it back in again. Looks like connections, uploads, and downloads are resuming automatically. I've done this moving the laptop from home to work with no discernable problems before. The connect button usually comes alive in the File menu after the disconnect is chosen.

Panther eh? I'm looking forward to trying it. Sorry to hear the DSL connection does not seem much better.

i must be close to a verizon station, because it is faster than my comcast cable modem.