I am running Window's Vista Premium, and have been using LimeWire successfully for over a year. Now, when I try to run it, I get the "you are currently connecting to the internet" phrase, but I never show more than 1 bar.

Basic Info:
1) Windows Vista Premium (I have an Administrator user account)
2) I am running 2007 Norton Antivirus (firewall is on and I have removed & re-added LimeWire.exe as an exception)
(also Windows Vista firewall is shut OFF)
3) 2 gig RAM
4) 90 gig or so Hard Disk space available
5&6) Running a DSL-G604T wireless modem/router (UPnP enabled)
7) I am using this notebook @ home
8) Running LimeWire (4.17.4 beta, had problem on previous version as well, that is when I tried the beta version) Java (1.6.0_03)
9&10) current ISP is local from New Paris, IN (BightNet)(did 6346 port test & it worked OK got message "Your Test Worked!"
11) not sharing the connection w/any other computers
12) have been using LimeWire successfully for about a year, this is the 1st time I have had a connection problem.
13) The brick wall ICON is present in the bottom lower left of the LimeWire application.
14) router is set up w/UPnP enabled
15) using 2007 Norton's Antivirus firewall is called "Internet Worm Connection"
16) living in the US
17&18) there are no speed issues, internet and all other apps using the internet are working fine

I have already tried the following: (with no success)
1) uninstalled and reinstalled the latest version of LimeWire.
2) Opened my Norton's Antivirus program, and removed and then added back LimeWire.exe as an exception
3) Tried adding the Gnutella port as an exception, but could find no Norton option that would allow that
4) Also I have completely disabled the Norton Firewall (I already have the Vista firewall disabled), tried LimeWire, still nothing.
5) Checked Java version (1.6.0_03) seems to be up to date
6) Also used browser to check whether this port is blocked or not
http://www3.limewire.com:6346/ (the port test worked) Then went to LimeWire options and set firewall config to Manual Port 6346. LimeWire still would not connect to internet.

Additional info I have noticed:
1) When I first open LimeWire, there is internet activity, as tho LimeWire is trying to connect, but nothing happens.
2) If I open the connections tab, it shows up to 9 hosts consistently, w/a status of connecting, but it goes no further.
3) All other internet activities seem to be normal.

Just a quick follow-up, Limewire is now working. I did a bunch of things, not sure which one worked, but @ any rate LimeWire is up and running.

Damn! I'm having exactly the same issues and have done many of the things you had noted in your initial post... still nothing!

Any more help out there?

Ok try to Down grade the JAVA 5.0 see if that works.
Archive: Download Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0 Update 11
Make sure when you do an down grade get rid of the newer Java.
If it do's not work you can go back to the new one at (Java.com)

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Fixes For Limewire When LW Isn't Operating As It Should
If you've updated LW and can't find your downloads!
LimeWire FAQ and User Guide--If LimeWire Will Not Load
If Limewire Will Not Connect

System Mechanic--FileHippo--Download.com

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Some time's i just want to throw my computer out the window

I contacted Norton and spent 45 minutes online with one of their analysts. It seemed to me, as I was watching him work, that the port issue is what was causing my problems. Seems like he opened one and that solved the problem.

how do you fix the port issue?

Since I was an observer, not the practitioner, this is what I think he did. He opened LimeWire, clicked on tools, options, advanced, firewall configuration , noted what the listening port was, then assured that port was available to LimeWire on my computer. Now, he did several other things but if I was going to guess, it was this procedure that worked.