I tried to open LW 4.2.6 not long ago and received and error message saying "LW was unable to load the Java Runtime Environment. Please donwload and install a newer version at www.java.com". So i donwloaded the new version, installed limewire again, and restarted my computer. nothing. The most absurd part is I was using LW without a problem not more than 4 hours before this problem started. The only difference was my computer swicthed locations.. from school to home.. and from a wireless connection to a LAN cable connection. But this doesnt seem to be a connection issue...What is going on? Can anyone help? BTW, im running windows XP sans SP2

That is indeed very strange, rcautill.

Absolutely nothing else changed between the time it worked and didn't? You didn't install any new programs or uninstall old ones?

If you can, send me an email at sberlin@limepeer.com . We've seen a few reports of LimeWire failing to find/load Java, and have thus far been unable to figure out the cause.

May I recommend you install the latest version of Java 'before' you install LW. http://www.limewire.com/english/cont...radejava.shtml

Other ideas: 1. Repair LimeWire using the Add/Remove Programs utility. Go to Control Panel then Add/Remove Programs & click on Limewire on the Change/Remove button & it comes up with options and one of them is Repair. Try this.
2. Right-clicking the Limewire icon and going to properties and changed compatability setting to Windows 2000.
3. Update your Java version 1.4.x OR version 1.5 (take the JRE)
4. Delete the LW Preferences folder called .limewire (whilst LW is closed!) Found here: C:/Documents And Settings/your_username/.limewire

5. You run Xp have you configured your firewalls: http://www.limewire.com/english/content/firewalls.shtml

unfortunately none of those suggestions worked out. Thinking back, i had installed one thing in between the time LW last worked and now. I installed an ethernet driver from the Dell website because I recently reformated my hard drive. This driver allowed me to access the internet using a LAN cable connection at home, instead of my normal wireless connection. Again, Im not sure how relevant that is simply because this error doesn't appear to be "connection" related. I have tried reinstalling limwire for a second and third time and tried updating java again and again to no avail.

Ok, so the problem is fixed. When i went to the java website and chose to donwload MANUALLY, it gave me the option to repair or uninstall. I chose to uninstall this time.. and then installed java again. Bingo! Limewire works!