Thanks for including the info; but I'm convinced there are some major problems with OSX 10.2.5 and the LW 2.9.8 that will not be fixed shortly. The OSX version of LW is still using java 1.3.1.

For the next few weeks, try Acquisition : it's basically LW at the core, but the developer has adapted it to work on OSX with java 1.4.1, so let him worry about getting LW to work on OSX while the LW team gets the next release ready.

You could try running the uninstall AND trashing the ~/Library/Preferences/LimeWire folder, ~/Library/Preferences/LimeWire.plist, and the Incomplete folder (salvage what you can for curiousity, but very few are likely to resume). Some other OSX ~/Library setting gets corrupted too, but I can't find it.

There are other possibilities, but you've already read the threads, so if you find something new . . . do post back.

Cheers.

[edit--you DID know about cmd-clicking the search tabs to "repeat search", right? Kick me if that's all you need!]