OK, here is a strange problem.

I had been successfully using Limewire v4.2.6 (yes, I know it's old) for a long time on an XP machine. I recently purchased another XP computer. Since v4.2.6 had been working for me, and sticking with "what works", I installed v4.2.6 on the new machine.

The installation went well and the program launches fine, however it would not connect.

I went back to my original machine and launched Limewire. It too would not connect. I thought I may have a problem with my router, or my ISP, or possibly v4.2.6 was now so old that it did not work any longer. For the record, I had not used Limewire for a couple of weeks so I do not know when it actually stopped working on this machine.

I checked various settings and everything seemed in order. I did not want to install the latest Limewire version (v4.12.14) on the new machine in the event that something larger was wrong. Changing software versions may just confuse the issue.

As a test tool, I downloaded v4.12.14 and installed it on an old laptop that is running Windows 98 (!). The installation went fine and amazingly, Limewire ran and connected. Everything was working great. I thought v4.2.6 must be the culprit.

Here is where it gets weird.

I went back to the "new" computer (with v4.2.6) and surprise, it was working now ! The program will launch and quickly connect.

I wondered if running v4.12.14 on the laptop had changed something (how could that be ?) or was it just coincidence ?

With new anticipation I went to the original machine (with v4.2.6) and launched Limewire, expecting it to work. It still would not connect. Now I am scratching my head...

All computers are hardwire connected to the same router (Linksys WRT54G).

I am running Java 1.6.0 and Norton on both XP machines.

Limewire does not report a firewall.

On all computers, connecting to the test site at http://www3.limewire.com:6346/ reports "Your test worked!"

No matter what I do, check router settings, check firewall settings, disable Norton, remove the router and directly connect the computer to the modem, the original machine (that Limewire WAS working on) will not connect. This is perplexing !

I do not want to install v4.12.14 on the XP machines until I resolve the problem (besides, a little techno investigation is always in order) and of course, v4.2.6 is working on my "new" machine.

Any bright ideas ?

Null