Hi laralina
3.4.7 is out--maybe that will help. I had trouuble connecting today too--one ISP is trying to set their software to control p2p apps, and the other said the network is really slow while they sort out some major virus. Have you called your ISP and asked if they allow connections to the gnutella network?

Are you sharing at least a few files? Some people don't allow "freeloaders" to connect.

As for the firewall, I never used one on OS 8.6 or 9, and I usually don't have it on when in OSX. I probably should be more careful, but haven't been burned yet.

There are other p2p apps like poisoner, acquisition, myster, phex and probably others for OSX.

I tried myster long ago, but never went back. I liked and supported Acquisition (http://www.xlife.org/) for the way it used the LW core and gave it an OSX look, but there are problems there too now. One of my kids is using Poisoner, but I haven't . Phex has been recommended too.

Personally I just stick with LW. see http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...threadid=21443 or http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...threadid=21400
The jum builds for OSX are so easy--just drag to the apps folder, and they are usually pretty current.

Don't give up--the network changes so quickly that one day you have great connections, and sometimes very few. Tracking down the reason is tricky, though, but it sounds like you are working through the steps quite quickly.

Cheers