I'm using Limewire Basic, on Windows XP... one day limewire was working fine, and the next when I try to start up the program, it gives me a message saying
"Limewire was unable to initialize and start. This is usually due to a firewall program blocking LimeWire's access to the internet or loopback connections on the local machine. Please allow LimeWire access to the internet and restartLimeWire."
I read the "Windows XP internet connection firewall" help page, and it says to make a note of the Listening Port, but I cannot do that because I can't actualy turn on Limewire. That message pops up every time I click the Limewire icon.

Can you help me?

Haven't been able to use Limewire for a month, and i'm going through withdrawls. Lol

~wasabi_rave

* Please do not double-post. Your post will be seen.

The default port LW uses is port 6346 so add that to XP's firewall configuration.

BTW if you have 2 firewalls, then disable one of them. 2 will no doubt interfere with each other! That's the last thing you want!

Also try this; try deleting your LW Preferences folder whilst LW is closed; instructions here: Point #2 in Fixes for Limewire (sample at bottom of page.)

Ok... next problem... lol

the XP's service settings window says that I need to enter an External AND Internal port number... Would it be the same "6346" number for both?

Yes these are normally the same.

Ok... did what they told me including the two port numbers.

I still get the same weird message.

Any other thoughts?

*throws her computer across the room* THERE.

~wasabi_rave

Can you give us a total desciption 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. 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?

Are you sure you don't have any other firewall other than XP firewall?

1. Windows XP (home edition, i think)
2. Windows Firewall, and Norton Antivirus' Firwall (Mother-in-law keeps turning the durn thing on)
3. not sure. Positive it's way more than i'll ever need for all my applications I have yet to install.
4. Same as above
5. Cable connection
6. Linksys WUSB54G
7. Connecting from Home
8. LW 4.9.37 version 1.0.0.2 / Java: since i can't access LW's help menu, i'm not positive but I think it's 1.4.2
9. ISP: Cox communications
10. No other p2p. This computer is on a wireless connection, the "base" computer being down in the basement.
11. It does, indeed say "Your test worked!".

and like I said before.... I *think* there might be a firewall that Norton Antivirus has up.... but i'm not exactly sure how to turn it off. I know how to turn of Windows Firewall, and that never changed anything for Limewire. And if I disable Norton... same results. Same error message when I try to startup LW.

Ouch Cox!!! See ISP's known to BLOCK or Filter p2p or specifically Limewire & I hope this doesn't apply to you. In the past, it didn't apply to everyone, Cox seemed to only apply it to individuals.

1. Try deleting your LW Preferences folder whilst LW is closed; instructions here: Point #2 in Fixes for Limewire (sample at bottom of page.)

2. Go to LW's menu bar, Tools>Options>Advanced>Firewalls & make sure UPnP is selected. Linksys used UPnP to allow LW to open whichever port is needed. LW also has UPnP abilities.

3. Also go to Tools>Options>Speed & tick the option for Disable Ultrapeer Capabilities & press Apply button. See if this helps.

Oh I just realised you can't start LW can you, or can you?

Are you sure Norton package doesn't also include their firewall?

Cox, eh? I don't think thr problem is with Cox, because Limewire was working great a month or so ago.

Deleted the preferences.

I can't try the other things you mention...

My problem isn't that LimeWire will not connect. But When I click on the LW icon in my start menu... the LW logo pops up, and before it even loads anything, it says the program cannot initialize and start.
So I can't access LW's menu's and toolbars etc.

QUESTION:
Could it possibly be a firewall that's blocking the program NOT on this computer, but on the "Base" computer that the modem and such are connected to?

Yes that is a possibility. Don't turn its firewall off though. Best to configure it as recommended. If it's a XP firewall then as suggested, but if you have another on the same computer, then disable XP & configure the 2nd one instead.

You said it worked fine a mth ago. But that's what happens, the ISP (if it's their fault) will do the blocking all of a sudden without your knowledge.