Can't connect

After more than 5 years with no problems, today I got this message:
"Limewire was unable to initialize and start. This is ususally due to a firewall program blocking Limewire Access to Internet or loop back conection on the local machine. Please allow Limewire access to the Internet and restart Lime wire."
I have tried some of the suggestions I found on this forum, like deleting the limewire directory and disabling the firewall, but with no luck. Can anyone tell me what has happened? I also copied in that url and got the message "Test worked." But I can't get onto LimeWire.

Could you post these details please....
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/connec...-you-post.html

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To the best of my knowledge, here's what I have going on:
1. OS version? Windows XP
2. What firewalls you have? The only one I know of is through McAfee, but I checked to see if LimeWire was on the exception list, and it is.
3. How much ram? 480 MB
4. Hard Disk space available? 28.9 G
5. Connection type? (eg: dialup, broadband, cable, etc.) DSL
6. Modem & router brand name & model numbers? Surfboard modem, Netgear wireless router WGT 624
7. Where are you trying to connect from (house, appartment complex, school, student accomodation, work, etc.)? House
8. What version of LimeWire (LW) & Java do you have? (Go to LW's menu Help>About LW...) Will show both LW & Java version. Limewire 4.14.10
9. Who is your ISP (Internet Service Provider)? Comcast
10. Do this simple test for us. Using your browser go here: http://www3.limewire.com:6346/ The page should say 'Your test worked!'. What happens when you go there? Says "Your test worked."
11. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs? If yes, please give details of set up. Shared with one computer in same room through wireless router. Using Azureus and OpenOffice.
12. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user. New problem with experienced user.
13. Do you see a brick wall in front of the blue world icon at the bottom of LW's interface? No
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/attach...1&d=1158099342
14. For those using a modem/router, how is your modem/router set up...are you port forwarding or is UPnP enabled? not sure
15. What security programs are you using (antivirus etc)? Some people might not be aware that their security suite includes a firewall (See No. 2)
16. What country are you living in? Sometimes there are ISPs with the same name in more than one country (eg Clearwire in the USA & also in Ireland). US

2. Don't forget you have a XP firewall. If using McAffee, then make sure XP firewall is disabled, else you will have problems. Recheck your McAffee settings to be sure LW is on its allowed list. You must make a firewall rule that gives LW full access thru its firewall.
6. & 14. Netgear devices normally have UPnP turned on by default.

You didn't mention which java you have. But I would recommend removing ALL java versions you have & downgrading to Java 1.5; see point #1 here Fixes for Limewire (click on blue link)

If 2.& java doesn't fix your problem, you may need to look at port forwarding. You will find your model here PortForward.com - Free Help Setting up Your Router or Firewall but FIRST thing you MUST do is set up a static ip: How to set up Static ip, then do the port forward steps.

According to the info I got when I checked through the website, "Your Java version is Version 6 Update 2. Please click the button below to get the recommended Java for your computer. " So how do I "downgrade"?

As I mentioned, it said that there was an exception for LimeWire in my firewall. How do I check the XP firewall?

So I figured out how to downgrade, I think, by deleting the current java from my hard drive and installing 1.5.10. Still no luck with LimeWire.Then I went to the portforward site, but it requires me to open LimeWire to get some basic info about connectivity, which I can't do. Arrgh.