I have downloaded and tried VLC and get a warning saying the VideoLAN Team doesn't like when an application goes online without authorisation. So I guess I've just been downloading corrupt files all the time. It seems a shame when Limewire used to be really good. The usual way that I select files to download is by the size - I've learnt that small files are nasty! But since this is only happening lately, I wonder if Limewire are planning to fix it? Just saw this: VLC does not support the audio or video format "MSS2". Unfortunately there is no way for you to fix this. The file I was trying to play was an mp3 file.

Perhaps I'm wrong on this occasion. MSS2 codec - how???? - Ubuntu Forums

MSS2 - Windows Media 9 (vids:MSS2)

MPlayer - The Movie Player

Up to you to decide. Sounds like MPlayer might be the way to go. Else changing the file extension as suggested. But still sounds suspicious. As one poster remarked, it was a DRM scam (maybe only his experience).
MPlayer is very similar to VLC btw.

I've found this useful site - Direct Song..DRM scam? - The Unofficial GuildWars Site - and am going to burn to CD then rip back to hard drive. I'll let everyone know if it worked:-)

My plan does not work, when I try to add these mp3 files to a playlist I still get told to download an application PLAY_MP3.exe from a website called http://www.fastmp3player.com, which does not appear to exist.As a last resort, I am going to uninstall and re-install Limewire.

The problem has nothing to do with Limewire.

Re-read post #10 above, and heed the warning. There are many audio and video fake files that say you must install another player. They are all scams.
Limewire developers will not "fix this" because the files do not come from nor go to any LW site - it's peer to peer.

Some help here:
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/downlo...-limewire.html,
here: http://www.gnutellaforums.com/downlo...h-results.html,
and here: http://www.gnutellaforums.com/downlo...note-them.html

Thanks guys, I have now re-installed LW and am running my first search. I found the 3 links above really useful and have already gone into Tools and put them into practice. 5 mins later...I have had some success!!! One .mp3 file I've been trying to download unsuccessfully since last week has come in properly!! Another one wanted to run PLAY_MP3 again, but still, the results contain a lot less spam.
Much appreciated...

I use Windows XP home and the latest Limewire Pro and have had no problem until the layout etc changed. I can download files no problem and do check to see the file extension etc, ie wma or mp3 etc and only download mp3 files, and check to make sure they're a decent size; 3mb etc and not ridiculously sized 100kb ones. However, any files search for download fine, but will not play. I use iTunes for all my 12,500+ tracks. I do like the option of the track automatically playing in iTunes, but mine don't. Why not?

One possibility I can think of, keep in mind there are still spam files that are around mp3 file size. They might in fact be spam files. This thread will give you an idea of most commonly spammed files: Virus thread: Typical virus spam file sizes - Make a note of them (click on blue link to see)

I'd recommend checking the files to play with VLC - (click on link) which although is fundamentally a video player, can play all the audio type files you will find using LW. If VLC cannot play the songs, then chances are the files are deliberately corrupted spam files.