You can't stuff anything up by deleting the preferences:D
What model's your Netgear? How do you have it set up (is UPnP enabled, are you port forwarding)? If you're port forwarding, maybe set it up again (see Grandpa's post here for why)
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...068#post208068

Do you see the firewall icon (brick wall in front of blue earth)?

Did the port test work?
http://www3.limewire.com:6346

Have you tried using any other p2p apps?

What's the name of your ISP? Even if they're a small local company, might be some info around about them.

Aaaaggghhh why is this problem in two threads?...
*starts banging her head on the wall*
...

whooooooooooa birdy...I am a techno weenie and have no idea what language you speak . LOL* my netgear router well it says it is a 108 mbps wireless firewall router WGT624 v2, as for configurations, I dunno, I just plugged it in and it worked. I have been using for several months now, and did with success with Limewire well until the last 3 days.
and yes I see the firewall icon, it is a brick wall in front of blue earth. only one bar on the connection grid is lit green the others stay red.
what is a port test? how do I do it?

Can you give us a total description of your set up:
1. OS version? (eg: Windows 98)
2. What firewalls you have?
3. How much ram?
4. Hard Disk space available?
5. Connection type? (eg: dialup, broadband, cable, etc.)
6. Modem & router brand name & model numbers?
7. Where are you trying to connect from (home, school, work, etc.)?
8. What version of Limewire (LW) & Java do you have? (Go to LW's menu Help>About LW...) Will show both LW & Java version.
9. Who is your isp provider (Internet Service Provider)?
10. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs? If yes, please give details of set up.
11. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user.
12. 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?
13. Try downlding a magnet link & explain what happens re: connection & speed; http://www.magnetmix.com/video.shtml
14. Go ro LW's menu bar, Tools>Options>Advanced>Firewalls & check the options such as both connection & listening port. What are they?

To do the port test either click on my link (under where I asked about the test) or click on the same link in LOTR's post, point 12.

ok..my OS is Windows XP (came with my laptop), I have McAfee Red Zone Suite and the firewall that comes with that, my laptop is a Dell INspiron 600m, it has Celeron M processor (1.4G) a 40GB hardrive, my internet connection is a local server, Northwest Telecommunications, my connection is a wireless connection, my modem (provided by them) is product #EUM3005,
version GAA3, my pc uses an internal ethernet card. my router is Netgear, WGT624, I connect from home only. I have been using Limewire 4.10.9, have been using for a few months now, no problems until the last few days, I use it about once a week. your link in #12 takes me to a blank page, the link in #13 takes me to magnetmix.com.

ok I clicked on a link on magnet.com and it qued my LW but it says waiting for stable connections

Limewire listening port 45301
router config Use Upnp is selected.

Do manual port forwarding but choose a port between 49152 - 65535 such as port 64049 for connection rather than 6346 as suggested here http://www.portforward.com/english/r...624v3index.htm

Yes Netgear will understand UPnP but if the ports it tries to connect thru are blocked ... then ...

ok I did all that, and still it wont connect. this time I got a box that said my computer did not have a internet connection or else there is a firewall blocking it..so I went and checked my mcafee firewall and it still says limewire has full access, and my windows xp firewall still says disabled.
:( it is hopeless...