Hi Roy B,
Your 4.8.1 won't have the firewall status showing, that's a feature of later versions

What you can do is go tools > options > bug reports > view example. Scroll down to 'recieved incoming this session'...if it's false there's probably a firewall problem somewhere.

Go back through the port forwarding setup, it's easy to make a mistake (I know from experience). Did you set up a static IP first? You'll have to, if you haven't already. The portforward.com instructions have a link for that. Also...check that LW's listening port, the port forwarded thru your router & the port in the 'manual port forward' box are all the same number.

You should probably also check your XP firewall config, just in case.
Firewall setup

I just fired up my 4.8.1 & it took a loooooonng time to connect (5 mins at least).

Your 4.8.1 won't have the firewall status showing, that's a feature of later versions

Thank you for educating me on that, Birdy.

What you can do is go tools > options > bug reports > view example. Scroll down to 'recieved incoming this session'...if it's false there's probably a firewall problem somewhere.

I pressed the VIEW EXAMPLE button, scrolled down to "Received incoming this session:" and indeed saw false there.

Did you set up a static IP first? You'll have to, if you haven't already. The portforward.com instructions have a link for that.

I went through this again VERY SLOWLY and, despite everything matching my notes from the last time I did this, set it up a second time.

Also...check that LW's listening port, the port forwarded thru your router & the port in the 'manual port forward' box are all the same number.

All three match one another.

You should probably also check your XP firewall config, just in case.

I went through this again also. In addition, I exited LW (including the system tray), deleted the exception for LimeWire from the Windows Firewall and then restarted LW to add the exception once again.

I just fired up my 4.8.1 & it took a loooooonng time to connect (5 mins at least).

Great post script! I think I understood the subtle message here, but I promise you that I'm not one of those hyper-impatient type folks. I've started LW repeatedly and let it try to connect for hours -- WITH NO LUCK.

Considering your thoughts about that 'FALSE' indicating a firewall issue, should I proceed from that angle?

Thanks for your consideration (and your time) once again ...

I wasn't saying you were being impatient & not giving LW enough time to connect...honest! I was surprised at how long my old version took to connect

Try going file > disconnect. Leave it for 5 mins, then file > connect.

Are you using any of the connections patches for SP2?
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showpo...56&postcount=4

Try deleting LW's preferences folder when LW's properly closed. Check out point 2 in the thread below for the location.
Fixes for LimeWire

You could also try Java 6 if you like. Use the offline JRE installer here. Remove all of your old Java versions before you install the new one.
http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp

If you've saved the 4.8.1 installer...download the latest LW basic & see if that connects. Installing a new LW will automatically remove the old version, so if you don't have the 4.8.1 installer, you'd lose that version. I have the basic version but I don't have a Pro that I could send you.

If none of this works & you don't want to lose the version you have, try changing ports. Use a port like 64049, or any one in the range of 49152 - 65535. Remember, if you change ports you'll also have to change any specific ports allowed thru a software firewall & ports forwarded thru a router