I have been using McAfee firewall for a while and it has been fine sofar, but no it is telling me that LW is not allowed through, i have added it as an 'exception', but still nothing! I have uninstalled and reinstalled LW countless tme as well. When i go to the LW support area of the website it tells me,in the first step to 'go within LmeWire and go to tools', except that there si no area 'within Lime Wire', whenever i click on the icon it (at least it use to) sends me straight to the LW program! i am completely stuck! Anyone got any ideas

See Connection problems? Check here first! as this probably has your answers.

BTW the reference to Tools with LW, is probably LW's menu bar, Tools>Options ... I don't know because I can't make sense out of the last part of your post.

Within LimeWire, go to: Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Firewall Config

that is my problem, icant figure out where the tools are is i cannot find it, when i click on'limewire' it sends me straight into the program that won'y work!

1st things 1st. Set up your firewall. If you're using McAffee, then disable XP's firewall or else you'll have problems between the two. Set up your router/modem as suggested in the 1st link.

After that you should be at least able to open LW.