There's nothing wrong with your LW connection (5 green bars is 'excellent'), it sounds like you're seeing fake files. These will sit 'connecting' for ages & then need more sources, but won't ever download.

Stay away from files with huge numbers of sources, these are more likely to be fake. Try a file with 10 sources or less, or those with a modem source. Also vary your search terms & see if the All Types search gives you different results. Check the threads below for more info. The second thread has info which also applies to video files.

Fake files showing up in search results
How to find music

If every single file that you try to download sits connecting (search for an old song as a test), delete LW's preferences folder when LW's properly closed. Points 2 & 3 below have instructions.
Fixes for LimeWire
Deleting this folder will kill all of your settings within options, you'll have to go back through & reset things afterwards.

If you're not seeing the blue globe icon, right click at the very bottom of LW's interface (near the connection bars) & make sure that 'show firewall status' is ticked

Your MN 700 has a firewall, so if you do see the brick wall icon get back to us & we'll try to help with that.