I'm having similar problems with connections and firewalls! I posted over a week ago, but then I went on vaca where I didn't have access to a computer, so with my luck I got responses but that thread is now erased! Anyway, I upgraded to PRO sometime last year; a few months ago, however, I started having connection problems. It has the "firewall" icon at the bottom, but I've allowed Limewire for my McAfee programs. (Technically, I don't even have a working McAfee program; it expired and I don't have the $ to update it, so the firewall shouldn't even be a problem!) In the lower-left corner, it constantly says "Starting Connection" but never actually establishes one. I'm dying here! I noticed someone recommends uninstalling, then reinstalling Limewire; has anyone tried that and had success? And will I have to pay for PRO again if I do that?? I'm dying here! I want my Limewire working again!