Wireless Connection for Limewire will not work
 

I'm a computer expert, but I've never had so much trouble getting a piece of software to work. Limewire will not connect on the wireless desktop. Limewire works fine on my hardwired desktop.

I have turned off all possible blocks I can think of (i.e. virus, software and hardware firewalls, SpySweeper). I tried the latest Java version and uninstalled all Javas and installed the suggested older version (1.6.0_02 and 1.5.0.12).

I am UPnP enabled. My router doesn't appear to provide port forwarding. I even tried opening a UDP port on 6348.

I have struggled with this for hours and checked a number of suggested solutions in this forum but nothing has worked.

Can anyone help?




1. OS version? XP Pro
2. What firewalls you have? Windows Firewall off. McAfee Firewall instead.
3. How much ram? 512mb
4. Hard Disk space available? over 100gb
5. Connection type? (eg: dialup, broadband, cable, etc.) Broadband cable.
6. Modem & router brand name & model numbers? Modem is a Belkin Pre-N router.
7. Where are you trying to connect from? house
8. What version of LimeWire (LW) & Java do you have? Limewire 4.8.0 Pro. Tried Java 1.6.0_02 and 1.5.0.12
9. Who is your ISP (Internet Service Provider)? Comcast
10. The test works fine going here. http://www3.limewire.com:6346/
11. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs? Wireless desktop will not work. Hardwired desktop works fine with no adjustments.
12. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user. Experienced user.
13. Do you see a brick wall in front of the blue world icon at the bottom of LW's interface? no
14. For those using a modem/router, how is your modem/router set up...are you port forwarding or is UPnP enabled? UPnP enabled. I don't think the Belkin router provides port forwarding.
15. What security programs are you using (antivirus etc)? McAfee Virus and Firewall, SpySweeper
16. What country are you living in? Sometimes there are ISPs with the same name in more than one country. USA

Go to Tools > Options > Bug Report > View Example scroll down to Received Incomming this Session, if it's true you are not blocked by a firewall, but if it is false you are being blocked by one of your firewalls...

If you are being blocked could you supply the model number for your Belkin...

The Received Incomming this Session flag was false after disabling the McAfee firewall and after disabling the Belkin hardware firewall.

I also opened port (6346) in both directions.

The Belkin model number is F5D8230-4.

This is really stumping me.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Ok here are your instructions to Port Forwarding your router, don't forget to set up your static IP number as well, all of the instructions for that are included in the link...
Port Forwarding for the Belkin F5D8230-4

Also once you have that sorted out, it may be best to use the JRE 5.11 Java...
Uninstall all versions of Java from the add/remove programs and then re-install the JRE 5.11 offline version....
Archive: Download Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0 Update 11

Deleting your prefernce folder can also help with connection problems...
Fixes for Limewire when LW isn't operating as it should

Ok, I set everything up to do port forwarding on port 50000 (static IP address, port 50000 assignments in both directions).

I'm running Java 1.5.0.12.

I deleted the limewire profile folder.

I had the software and hardware firewalls turned off.

And it still will not connect...

Try the JRE 5.11 and see if that helps...
Link is in above post...

Loaded JRE 5.11

java version "1.5.0_11"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_11-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0_11-b03, mixed mode, sharing)

Still does not connect...

Can you try this...
Save your 4.8.0 installer and download the latest version of limewire and see if it connects...;)

Installed latest version of Limewire (4.14.3) Still no connection.

Limewire indicates firewall detected. So McAfee and router firewalls were disabled. The only other thing I can think of is SpySweeper, so I shut that down. But there remains a small SpySweeper.exe still running that the system will not allow me to do an "end task" on.

But on the other hand, I run Limewire successfully with SpySweeper on the hardwired desktop.

Any more ideas?

In the listen port and the manual port forward box in limewire did you enter 50000 ??

If yes try Port Forwarding again and edit 50000 and use 64049, you don't have to do the static ip part again...

The new Limewire install picked up my settings from the old. The manual port is set to 50000. But the listening port set to 51111.

So are you suggesting to set both to 64049? Any reasoning behind that?

I opened port 50000 on the router in and out. Does that need to be changed to 64049 also?

Thanks.

You need to have the listen port and the manual port forward numbers the same as what you used in the port forwarding...

Change the listen port to 50000 as well....

I suggested 64049 because that is a common port people use successfully...But don't use it unless the 50000 doesn't work...

And yes if you choose the 64049 you will have to change the TCP and the UDP within the router...

Tried port 50000 everywhere... no connection.
Tried port 64049 everywhere... no connection.

Limewire still reports it detects a firewall.

Are we running out of options here? Is there any time of network monitoring we can do or logging you can turn on within Limewire?

Kdsimms

I have been reading your problem with an amount of mild disbelief that you could be having so much problem but this "things" are sent to test us.

I'd like to ask a few questions which I hope you can answer.

1) You said that your wired desktop works with Limewire but your wireless desktop does not, apart from the modem connection what is the difference between the two desktops?

Unless you say something different, I shall presume that you are using both desktops to access the internet via your (single multi-user) modem.

2) You said that your modem has UPnP enabled, that's how LW on your desktop can work without port forwarding, therefore have you initialised UPnP on you wireless desktop? Simply because I don't believe it is currently turned on in XP by default, unlike the bad old days:o.

3) Have you enabled WEP or WPA encryption on your modem? Although it should not make a difference (and I would never recommend the following to a novice) I suggest you turn off encryption, enable UPnP on WinXP Pro, LW and your modem and then see what happens. But don't leave your modem in this state for too long because you effectively have no security.

4) You also say the you don't see the "brick wall in front of the globe", so it is likely that you do not have a "firewall" problem. Do you get an error message when LW cannot connect to the internet?

One other thing occurs to me, I recall that some Comcast members have in the past said that your ISP sometimes "bandwidth shape" (aka throttle) P2P connections, this might be something worth looking into.

Hope my suggestions can help throw some light on your predicament.



UK Bob

Bob, See my answers below...



Kdsimms

I have been reading your problem with an amount of mild disbelief that you could be having so much problem but this "things" are sent to test us.

I'd like to ask a few questions which I hope you can answer.

1) You said that your wired desktop works with Limewire but your wireless desktop does not, apart from the modem connection what is the difference between the two desktops?

The hardwired box is running Windows XP Media Center. The wireless one XP Pro.
Both have McAfee Virus/Firewall and SpySweeper.


Unless you say something different, I shall presume that you are using both desktops to access the internet via your (single multi-user) modem.

Yes


2) You said that your modem has UPnP enabled, that's how LW on your desktop can work without port forwarding, therefore have you initialised UPnP on you wireless desktop? Simply because I don't believe it is currently turned on in XP by default, unlike the bad old days:o.

UPnP is enabled. I can reach my router via the wireless PC and make port adjustments. But to make sure I had it enabled, I looked it up and I *think* you may be on to something.

My Windows Firewall is off. You go to the Exceptions tab, UPnP Framework is enabled. If you hit the edit button, TCP port is 2869 and the UDP port is 1900. Could this be the source of my problem, with ports not matching?


3) Have you enabled WEP or WPA encryption on your modem? Although it should not make a difference (and I would never recommend the following to a novice) I suggest you turn off encryption, enable UPnP on WinXP Pro, LW and your modem and then see what happens. But don't leave your modem in this state for too long because you effectively have no security.

Yes, WPA security is on.


4) You also say the you don't see the "brick wall in front of the globe", so it is likely that you do not have a "firewall" problem. Do you get an error message when LW cannot connect to the internet?

That's incorrect. I indicated earlier that LW detects a firewall, even tho McAfee and the router firewalls are off.


One other thing occurs to me, I recall that some Comcast members have in the past said that your ISP sometimes "bandwidth shape" (aka throttle) P2P connections, this might be something worth looking into.

I don't even know how to investigate that angle. But I doubt that is the problem, since the hardwired has no bandwidth issues. And I have throttled back LW on uploads also.


Hope my suggestions can help throw some light on your predicament.

I think they might have with the UPnP enable question.

UK Bob

Thanks Bob. I will be visiting your country in September and touring around on the back of a Harley with two of my buddies.

I look forward to your ideas on the UPnP port issue.

Ken
USA

Hi Ken

I hope that when you come to the UK you have a good time, but back to your problem.

There is a windows (XP) component that seems to go hand in hand with UPnP and that is the Internet Gateway Devices Discovery and Control, I would suggest that you check if this is installed as well.

I understand that this component helps windows to control your modem, your modem's user guide will tell you more.



UK Bob

Bob,

I checked on the IGD idea you have. It is already installed on this wireless desktop. But there is also a Peer-to-Peer option not installed.

But I have discovered a solution/work-around. I placed the wireless desktop's IP address in the DMZ on the router (i.e. outside of the protection of the router) and now Limewire works. The firewall indicator has disappeared.

This may be the only solution to this very frustrating problem. Any thoughts?

I appreciate all of your help of "Wondering Why" and from you Bob.

Ken
USA

Apparently I spoke too soon... when I got home this evening, the wireless PC won't connect again. LW indicates a firewall is detected.

I suspect that since we obtain a dynamic IP address from Comcast ISP, the IP address I had last night is not the same now. Therefore the DMZ setting is useless now.

I guess I need to figure out another solution now, but at least I know its the Belkin router.

And Belkin's support was useless about this problem.

If anyone has anymore ideas, I would appreciate hearing them.

Ken

Are you using the McAfee Security Center, if you are try Port Forwarding the Firewall...
Port Forwarding for the McAfee Security Center

I have McAfee Firewall. I don't recall any port forwarding capabilities in the Firewall options. The only thing available is granting internet access.

And anyway, the same McAfee Firewall software is running (unchanged) on the hardwired PC and LW is running fine.

I think I have determined at this point that the Belkin Pre-N router is the issue. But I haven't figured out how to keep it from blocking LW on the wireless box. And as I stated earlier, Belkin support was no help. They told me to ask the LW vendor what to do. As you can see, passing the buck.

Ken
:bangh:

I was checking the thread "Still can't connect!!!!!!!!!! " for clues as what to do.

On the fourth post of that thread, it mentions changing protocols. This helped me solve my connection problem on my wireless desktop.

On my Belkin router, I had to set it to "block ICMP" pings which apparently changes protocols it accepts.

Now LW works! Check the protocols your router accepts and set the one that will allow LW to work for you.

Thanks to everyone who has helped along the way.

Ken

Internet Control Message Protocol
 

Hi Ken

Glad you got your wireless connection working, but I've got to tell you that it was not possible to see ICMP playing a part in your connection problems.

You see, I was aware of this ICMP control, i.e. allowing or not allowing it, but only as a function/facility within my Norton Personal Firewall (software), I was not aware that modem/router manufacturers had incorporated this facility within a hardware firewall (there is no such facility within my own modem/router).

Still, we all live and learn.

Saying all that, Belkin's helpdesk should certainly have been aware of this feature and advised you to turn if off.

You see, back in the old days when I was first on dial-up, and still with Virgin (my old P2P throttling ISP), I had problems connecting to the Internet. The first thing Virgin's help desk asked was did I have a Norton's firewall and was ICMP enabled.

So you see, these are basic things a technical help desk should know.

Anyway, thanks for the solution to your connection problem, I am sure that before long another unhappy LW user is going to ask for a solution to their Belkin/Wireless connection problem.


UK Bob

PS: Here is the URL to some info on ICMP: Internet Control Message Protocol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks again Bob for all your help.

Ken