I recently downloaded Limeire Pro and am getting this message, "Limewire was unable to initialize and start. This is usually due to a firewall program blocking LimeWire's access to the internet or loopback connections on the local machine. Please allow LimeWire access to the internet and restartLimeWire." I have gone throughthe forums and tried all sorts of things that have been suggested. Anyone have any ideas?

Can you give us a total desciption of your set up:
1. OS version? (eg: Windows 98)
2. What firewalls you have?
3. How much ram?
4. Hard Disk space available?
5. Connection type? (eg: dialup, broadband, cable, etc.)
6. *** Modem & router brand name & model numbers? (very important info so try very hard to provide this answer!!!)
7. Where are you trying to connect from (home, school, work, etc.)?
8. What version of Limewire (LW) & Java do you have? (Go to LW's menu Help>About LW...) Will show both LW & Java version.
9. Who is your isp provider (Internet Service Provider)?
10. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs? If yes, please give details of set up.
11. Do this simple test for us. Using your browser go here: http://www3.limewire.com:6346/ The page should say 'Your test worked!'. What happens when you go there?
12. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user.

These details are vital if you want us to find out what your connection problem is.

1. OS version? (eg: Windows 98) --- Windows XP Home
2. What firewalls you have? Windos (disabled) and Zone Alarms (allowing Limewire access)
3. How much ram? 256 I think
4. Hard Disk space available? 16.9 GB
5. Connection type? (eg: dialup, broadband, cable, etc.) Cable
6. *** Modem & router brand name & model numbers? Netgear Wireless
7. Where are you trying to connect from (home, school, work, etc.)? Home
8. What version of Limewire (LW) & Java do you have? LW -- 4.9.23, Java -- not sure, can't open LW but do have Java....maybe 5 or 1.5
9. Who is your isp provider (Internet Service Provider)? Comcast
10. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs? No
11. Do this simple test for us. Using your browser go here: http://www3.limewire.com:6346/ The page should say 'Your test worked!'. What happens when you go there? Test works
12. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user. No, been going on for a little while

1. Try deleting your LW Preferences folder whilst LW is closed; instructions here: Point #2 in Fixes for Limewire (sample at bottom of page.)

2. Can you get us a model no. of your netgear device?

I deleted the LW prefs earlier and that did nothing. As for NETGEAR, it can't be that becuase the first time that I dled the basic version it worked then when I went to open it after I had shut down my comp it wouldn't open again. I have dled 50 songs already but tit just won't start up again

1. Double-check your firewall settings; Firewall configuration instructions (click on link)

2. Reinstall Java 1.5 using the "Offline" version as in point #1 in the link I gave in my last post.

Just because you were able to connect before doesn't mean you were totally clear of a firewall ... be it your netgear or software firewall.

I dowloaded the Java 1.5 and have gone through my firewall stting s for Windows, which is not on and for Zone Alarms and it has question mark's all beside it to ask for access.

I got LW Pro to work. All that was needed to be done was within Zone Labs, had to configure it to not ask at all for access to the internet. When I had it to ask it didn't do squat, but after changing it to allow access no matter what, it was fine. So you may want to keep that in mind for others with similar issues, or at least if they also have Zone Labs.

Note that you also have to delete C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\LimeWire when you're deleting preferences. I've sent a message to Lord of the Rings about updating the referenced instructions. (Many thanks to Lord of the Rings for writing up those instructions.)

(For you international users, you'll need to either look up the value of your APPDATA environment variable or search your machine for LimeWire folders that are inside a folder that's inside your user's home folder. APPDATA defaults to C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\ on English versions of Win2k and later. If APPDATA isn't set, then LW won't use %APPDATA%\LimeWire)