1. OS version? (eg: Windows 98) windows XP
2. What firewalls you have? Norton Security 2005
3. How much ram? 1024
4. Hard Disk space available? 150GB
5. Connection type? (eg: dialup, broadband, cable, etc.) dial-up-broadband
6. Modem & router brand name & model numbers? Thomson speedtouch 330 ASDL
7. Where are you trying to connect from (home, school, work, etc.)? home
8. What version of LimeWire (LW) & Java do you have? (Go to LW's menu Help>About LW...) Will show both LW & Java version. v4.14.2 Java 1.6_02
9. Who is your ISP provider (Internet Service Provider)? Orange-wannadoo
10. 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? this works
11. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs? If yes, please give details of set up. no - i don't believe so
12. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user. basic version used to work until a few months back when it would connect every so often but mostly not - coincided with using windows defender to shut down spam, but disabling windows defender has no effect on the turbo version I downloaded yesterday. I've re-installed twice now and no effect
13. Do you see a brick wall in front of the blue world icon at the bottom of LW's interface? yes

please help as this is most frustrating - I've read the forum postings and there is much that I'm not familiar with e.g. preferences folders, manula port forwarding etc