I've been using Limewire 1.8 with OS 10.1.1 successfully. I updated today to 10.1.2, then downloaded Limewire 2.0. The file unzips into a folder, but there is no Limewire program or installer inside and no directions on how to installer. Any advice would be appreciated...

Hmmn....it shouldn't unzip to a folder. Try opening it manually from Stuffit Expander 6.5.1 (not Stuffit Deluxe). If that does not work, try renaming the downloaded file to .zip instead of .sit. It should expand to a nice little installer with an icon.

I just had the same problem. I think there was an existing 'Install' file from another download. I moved the .sit file to another folder and double clicked it there. It installed just fine after that.

That's exactly the solution to the problem. Mac OS X is a little too fussy about what it regards as application packages and what it thinks are folders. If there's something already there with the same name, Stuffit Expander automatically appends a "1" to the end of the name. This seems to go *after* the invisible ".app", breaking Mac OS X's automatic recognition of that item as an application... so it makes it into a folder.

There's probably a tool out there to convert folders into packages, and you may be able to do thsi by hand anyway - haven't tried yet, personally - but the simplest thing to do is rename or move the original "install" item and unstuff the Limewire thing again. The new item will be named correctly, and work properly.

NOTE to the LimeWire developers: could you please name the actuall installer app something more explicit than just "install"? That could refer to just about anything, and it could be 'sorted' out of site in the containing folder very easily. Something like "Limewire Installer" would be good, and sticking the version number in there (for example "LimeWire 2.0 Installer") would be even better - that would avoid much of the 'app is folder' problems too! :-)

Keith, MacUser magazine technical editor

sounds like this man might know a thing or two. hope you don't mind me picking your brains. I've got my limewire pro downloaded and installed o.k. (I think) but it won't do anything, doesn't seem able to connect. do I have to change the settings to get it to work on a LAN network? or am I barking up the wrong tree? nothing in the services menu ever seems to be highlighted- does that mean I'm not connected? if so, how do I get it connect along with my other applications. I never had this much trouble with aimster...

thanks in advance

bunjin

Very kind comment! :-)
If you can run LimeWire (pro or otherwise), as far as I can see it must be installed correctly. From there on it is a matter of having your Internet access set up correctly. If your 'Net access is via a LAN, as is mine at work, then you may well be sitting behind a firewall. Unless your network administrator allows access through port 6346 (the port used by default in LimeWire's Options/Advanced/Port panel) then I'm afraid LimeWire simply won't be allowed to communicate with the outside world from there.
I have this problem at work, and it means I simply can't use LimeWire there. Fortunately I have DSL at home... dynamic IP address, but not such a restrictive security setup.

Hope this helps - gotta run

Keith
MacUser magazine technical editor

thanks for the advice. I guess I'm just plain stuffed as far as using limewire is concerned... any idea whether mactella would be any different: I know it uses gnutella network as well but could it use a different port, or is it possible to designate another? what really bugs me is that I used to use aimster- the one and only engine I've been able to get to work so far (know any others?). Apart from being unbelievably inefficient (perhaps due to the firewall thing...) it did work, but is now being sued by AOL or someone and so has had to change both its name and the network, both of which it has done with total disregard for anyone with a mac. it seems that downloading stuff from the internet isn't something I'm going to be doing a lot of from now on. I almost wish I had a PC like everyone else using morpheus (I said ALMOST!). Anyway, what happened to that great creative streak all mac users are supposed to have? I guess none of them are into designing software for downloading mp3s and the like. too bad, sure seems to be a market...

all the best.

bunjin

As far as I know, if you're blocked from using something like Limewire because of port and firewall issues, you're blocked whatever computer and OS you use. Napster had this same problem. I forget how Aimster worked, but it may have used some tricks to work with moderately restrictive firewall setups. If so, I'm not surprised it was inefficient!

An efficient firewall will simply block traffic on all ports except those explicitly opened by the network manager for your use. For example port 80 ('scuse glossing over details, morning headache and rush to get a review written) is used for HTTP traffic, and is virtually always open in firewalls... but you can't just switch the ports an app uses and carry on as normal - for example switch Limewire to port 80 and communicate with the Gnutella network.

[idle wishing]
I don't know if it would be possible, but I'd love to see a way to route Limewire traffic through that port - even if just for requests, not two-way sharing. But this is probably a gross violation of the way things work, and a security nightmare if it was possible. :-)

Best suggestion I can think of is to bite the bullet and get yourself a broadband connection at home. Then (a) you won't be sitting behind a corporate firewall, (b) you will get acceptable sharing speeds, and (c), if you have 'metered' Internet access now, you won't have to worry about racking up the online call charges in the future. (You'll be paying a wedge for broadband, but at least it is fixed. :-)

Keith
MacUser technical editor

Thanks very much for the tip on the expander confusing the .app packaging, Keith -- I had not thought of that. I will rename the installer file to something more reasonable for a future release. I did not read your request before releasing today's beta, but I'll bet sure to do it for the next one.

I have nothing fruitful to add on the firewall topic, unfortunately. LimeWire will actually do a bit of scanning for ports in the 634* range, but will not be able to connect if it doesn't find anything open.

Glad to be of some help Adam! I know that particular 'make app as folder' glitch can be a pig to figure out.

I have a comment on Limewire 2.1/Mac OS X 10.1.2 which I'll put into a new thread, but while I'm here...

Could someone please post the exact version number available somewhere on the limewire.com site, and maybe a note in or with the downloaded app that notes its exact version number too?
I downloaded version 2.1 (from the registered user URL), and I've since noticed mentions of 2.1.1 being available. Trouble is, I can't see where to find a version number on the Java-based app, and the site itself doesn't seem to tell me which is available to d/l.

Just another thought. :-)

Keith
MacUser technical editor