Not ONCE have I been able to connect - I've tried on my own, I need help
 

I've tried going through the other threads, but it seems the difference between my problem and others' is that I have NEVER been able to connect.
When I first downloaded LimeWire, 2-3 weeks ago, I got a message (*) along the lines of 'you don't have an active internet connection or a firewall is blocking'. My Norton firewall allows LimeWire on all ports, and Windows' firewall is off. I have Win XP, don't know how to find out how much RAM I have, at least 7 GB of free space, and my connection is DSL. I should mention that I have Kazaa and it connects all the time, it just sucks.
I read in one of the threads to use the 'jar' thing, I downloaded it, but Windows couldn't open it because it needed to know what program created it?
Then I uninstalled it and downloaded the new version 4.6.0. The first day I got that message (*) again. I left it for a few days. Today I got all hopeful when the message still hadn't popped up after 1 hr., but nothing ever happened. I came back to the forums and tried the www3.limewire.com:6346/ test and I got 'Cannot find server, page cannot be displayed'. Is this the problem?
Thank you, I realize that there are a lot of threads on this subject, I would really appreciate a response/solution.

If you did the browser 6346 test & couldn't get a result then that is a very bad sign!

Can you give us a total desciption of your set up:

1. OS version? (eg: Windows 98)
2. What firewalls you have?
3. ram?
4. HDD 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...)

These details are vital if you want us to find out what your connection problem is.

Thanks for replying so quickly. I thought I had given most of the info asked, but now I have more:
1. OS version: Windows XP Service Pack 2
2. Firewalls: Norton Internet Security (allowed LimeWire)
Windows (off)
3. Ram: 256MB
4. HDD space available: 7GB +
5. Connection type: DSL
6. Router: USR 800 or 8000
7. Connecting from: Home
8. LimeWire version: 4.6.0
Java: 1.3.1_03, Java Runtime Environment, and a plain Java that doesn't say (?)

If the browser test didn't work, what does that mean?
I had mentioned a 'jar' thing before - I was referring to the purger.
Thank you.

For a start Java 1.3 is way out of date & I suspect the other version you have will be 1.4.2 or 1.5 To find out go to LW's menu Help>About LW & this will tell you the version of Java as well as the version of LW.

Perhaps your modem-router does not understand UPnP. So let's do this manually. Go here: http://www.portforward.com/routers.htm & choose your model which will be on the far right half-way down page. Click on your model (there's 4 models with similar no. eg: USR8000A.) Now on that following page click on Port Forwarding. Then click on the Static IP link. You must set up a static ip before you forward a port (open a port.)

Steps:
1. Set up a Static IP (direct link to instructions for setting up static ip)
2. Forward Port 6346 as described at portforward.com
3. Force IP within LW: Force IP instructions & sample image & 2 posts after that.

After this you should be able to access port 6346 which is what LW uses. LW should now work.

Make sure you configured Norton correctly; see: Configuring Norton Internet Security & even though your XP firewall is disabled, configure it for LW anyway: http://www.limewire.com/english/content/firewalls.shtml

After this give LW some time to try to connect. Perhaps even manual connect might be wise. Make sure your Java is up to date if it's not.

If you can't connect after this then I'd wonder about your ISP. Who is your ISP by the way?

Sorry for taking so long. We called our ISP (Bell), and they said that they don't block anything. We followed your instructions, but unfortunately, we still can't connect.

When we start LimeWire and click on the 'connections' tab we can see a whole slew of addresses connecting to. Then, it's as if the connections get cancelled. There must be 15-20 addresses listed. This, to me, would indicate we are able to connect, however, there must be something to cause the disconnection.

If you have any other suggestions, it would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

Another idea. Go to LW's menu Tools>Options>Advanced>Firewalls & type in 4915 in the Listening port box; ie: replace the 6346. Press Apply button. Then go to menu File>Connect. Wait a while. If doesn't show any sign of connecting then go File>Connect, wait a minute & then repeat the process. (By the way if you forwarded a port / used force ip then you should change this number to 4915 at least for force ip for now.

I'm trying that now. It takes awhile.

I never mentioned that when the error message does pop up, I'll click either on ok or x and as much as I click on it, another one pops up in it's place until I have to Control/Alt/Delete to get it off. Then Windows says that its waiting for a command from me so it can't close, so I have to click 'End Now'.

Should I be using UPnP or manual for the router configuration?

Okay, I tried it..............didn't work. At this point should I just give up?

1. Update your Java & try again: Fixes for Limewire (click link) You could also try deleting your LW preferences folder but you'd need to make a note of all your settings 1st.

2. Another option is to try a proxy to see if it works. Using a Proxy (click on link).

Well, I can do it now!! I wish I could tell you how, all I know is my father re-booted everything and now it works. Thank you so much for all your help Lord of the Rings!!