What type of connection do you have? What's your Operating System version (eg: Windows version 98/2000/XP) & if possible Java version? Limewire requires Java to operate & the newer versions of LW work best with the newer versions of Java.
Here's some threads which require some reading but they might be of some help in configuring your LW for the best connection & downloading results:
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...5&pagenumber=1 (only need to read the 1st post in this thread)
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...threadid=27036
Search techniques: dwnld probs
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...threadid=27285
Oh keep in mind, the more files you share, the easier it is to connect to more sources (people). This is because some people limit the people who are able to connect to them by sharing less than a certain no. of files (eg: 50 or more.) Also, what is your Locale Preferencing set to? You can find this in LW’s menu bar/Tools & I think it’s Options & Advanced (sorry I don’t have a windows version LW.) Locale Preferencing will enable you to connect to local people 1st for faster connection. See:
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...threadid=27617 for a rough description.