Yes it makes a difference AFAIK. The manual portforward number should be the same as the listening port.

Yeah and I mistook the IP settings with the Http settings....:o
Though your firewall should be configured with TCP and UDP in accurance with the listening port (and the manual port forward).
:Smilywais:

Ok, so should I change the listening port value, or the manual port forward value?

I followed instruction in one of these threads, that instructed me to do some kind of crap with the firewall port configurations. I don't think there should be an issue there, but i don't know.

The default port of LW is 6346, so both (listening and manual port forward) should be the same.
As for the firewall, it can have an effect if it is not configured properly.
Right-click you Network Connection, which should be the Local Area Connection, then go to Properties and in the General Tab you click on the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then Properties. There you should check whether the IP and Submask is the same as the ones you have, if they aren't type in the ones you have.
Then go to Advanced>Settings and add the listening port 6346 as TCP once and then as UDP once and then click okay. Could be that you have to reconnect to the internet. See if that changes something.
Oh, almost forgot,....after you changed the manual port and the listening port to the same number, close LW and then follow the steps above.
:Smilywais:

OK...here's what I did, and it still doesn't work...

1. Changed listen port value in LW to match the manual port forward value to 6346. Then, I clicked apply, and closed LW

2. In Windows, I went to Network connections> Local Area Connection> Properties> Advanced> Settings> Advanced> Highlighted Local Area Connection> Settings> Saw 2 selections for Gnutella, both checkmarked.

3. Highlighted first Gnutella selection (UDP), and hit edit> The Settings there were as follows: Name: My Computer Name / ext. port: 43004 / int. port: 43004. I changed my computer name value to reflect my exact IP address, and changed both port values to 6346. I also did the same for the other Gnutella selection (TCP). I clicked Ok in all windows, to make sure the settings had taken.

Note: Strangely enough, when I went back to double-check...the value where I had input my IP address, had reverted back to my computer name. I figured it had to do with the computer name, and IP address being the same, I guess. I dunno...Now, in the firewall instructions provided to learn how manipulate these values under this link: http://www.limewire.com/english/content/firewalls.shtml. In step 15, this list suggests using the IP address of 127.0.0.1....I tried that, too. But it reverts back to my computer name again. Could this have anything to do with it?

I also tried a few other things, such as enabling/disabling proxy, while making sure to hit apply, and close LW out, after each attempt. This didn't make a difference.

I also tried disabling LW from starting automatically, which I saw worked for some users, but this did not work, either. I'm stumped....

by the way...I don't know what this means:
------
your quote:
then go to Properties and in the General Tab you click on the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then Properties. There you should check whether the IP and Submask is the same as the ones you have, if they aren't type in the ones you have.
------
I know what the IP and mask values are, but what am I comparing them to?

Okay, first of all....I'm not sure whether this has anything to do with your problem; it was just a thought, so I told you to at least exclude certain possible causes......

Look at my screen shots to see what I meant.

That it reverted back to your computer name seems to be okay; I think it should be that way. have you also tried not to use manual port forward? I.e. using UPnP?? Because for manual port forwarding you should have an static IP and if you do only one slight mistake in setting up a static IP then the whole process won't work.
:Smilywais:

Ok, I just switched it back to just using UPnP, but that didn't do anything either.

As for your screen shots. I appreciate it, but I am fully aware as how to get to those screens. However, I was asking what you wanted me to compare those values to....

by the way, thank you for your prompt replies. I know you must have better things to do. At least we know what ISN'T causing the problem, haha.

Ok. I put my gloves on, and took the extreme measures you recommended.

First, I uninstalled Limewire, and deleted all files and folders I could find through the start>search method.

Then, I uninstalled that piece of crap PC-Cillin. However, I am a little uneasy about not having ANYTHING running on my machine. I guess I'll have to run out and get something that is actually worth the money.

Anyways, Once I rebooted from the uninstallation, I got online, and tried to download limewire. Like the last time I visited, it did not want to download the regular version, but asked me to download the full installer. I didn't think that was a big deal, and it would have raised an eyebrow, but it did the same thing last time I downloaded this version, just before I started this thread. I'm used to stuff like this, now.

So, I downloaded the full installer, and got the program up, and running. Of course, it did not want to connect.

I went to the IT guy, and had a little man-to-man with him. Here's what I confirmed: This computer connects through a basic switch, which then connects to the main server. UPnP does not even come into play, since he has software (ISO Server 2004) on the server that takes care of all the firewalling and proxy stuff. He also said there should be no reason why I cannot connect, since I have full access rights, and because he's not blocking ANYTHING other than spam. Again, he confirmed that the settings on his end are the same as they were 6 months ago.

So, I came back, and set the listening port on LW to 50xxx and then enabled UPnP. I made the appropriate changes to the firewall settings, and tried to connect again....nothing....

I thought maybe it had something to do with the proxy address not being in there yet, so I input the proxy address and the appropriate port...nothing...

I disabled LW from connecting on start-up, closed it down, and tried again....nothing

I even disabled Windows firewall, and tried again....nothing

I also tried the test again, which was successful. HOORAY!!!! but it doesn't really help....

But you're still seeing the brick wall at the bottom of LW's interface right?

As far as firwalls go, AFAIK you can get free ones that are just as good if not better. Some of the forum members would be able to recommend such ones. Here's a list of some but I can't comment upon their abilities Free Firewalls listed at Norbie's site

yeah, even when I turn off the windows firewall, the brick wall is still there, which is not suprising, being that the server is firewalled.

what can be the problem?

thanks for the advice on the firewalls, though.