MP3s sans bitrate
 

I've just downloaded (successfully) two MP3 files, neither of which will open in iTunes, nor via Peak or anything else that normally reads MP3s. Peak's error message suggests the file may not contain audio data. The file sizes would seem to match what you'd expect from an MP3, the file is recognized and labeled by the system as one, but not by any audio software.

I notice in both cases that no bitrate at all is showing up in the Limewire main window, which strikes me as a bit odd.

This is on a Mac running OSX 10.4.11

Anybody encountered this problem, and is there a fix?

Try this program Audion (click on link). It can also play mp3pro files which iTunes cannot.

Another possibility is the two files you downloaded are deliberately corrupted files spammed onto the network. Spammers; mp3 Bit-Rates Versus File Sizes (click on link) (ignore reference to T3)

Audion
 

Thanks for the Audion tip, but it, like everything I've thrown at these files, will not play them. They say they're mp3s but nothing can play them.
But everything that Limewire was pulling up as audio files at the time lacked a bitrate number. So I'm still not sure if these are viral or just mutant.

best,
gf

hmm not sure. Have you tried opening them with QuickTime player? I have had similar before, some played, some not. If they play, you could always convert them to AIFF format.

I've tried opening them with every piece of audio software I have. None of it works.