my god someone help (LW unable to initialize & start)
 

Ok, here's the deal. I'm an expert at this things we call computers, especially with the whole internet field. But, for the ****ing life of me I cant connect to ANY software that would let me download music. Not Limewire, Frostwire, KaZaA, WinMX, Bearshare, ect. Nothing. I get the infamous '... was unable to initialize and start. This is usually due to a firewall program blocking .. access to the internet or loophole connections on the local machine. Please allow .. to access to the internet and restart .. '

Ya, k, bullshit. I went as far as DELETING all anti virus software. Everything that would pertain to viruses and extra firewalls. All that good stuff. Allowed 6346 in both TCP and UDP. Allowed the programs in my Windows Firewall. Even turned off the firewall to try to connect. I uninstalled all Java and components, uninstalled the program itself, and reinstalled. N O T H I N G. Same box pops up as if its taunting me. I dont understand. At one point when I pressed connect my computer was completely unprotected, unfirewalled, completely open, and yet still, nothing. I have no router. Just cable, wall - box - computer. This makes no sense. Someone please frickin help me. :aweof:

Here's a simple question for you:

Does your ISP "Bandwidth Shape" your your Internet connection?

Mmm.. what do you mean?

I feel your pain...
 

I've been lurking about, waiting to see if someone was finally going to offer up a solution that I haven't already tried multiple times, but to no avail...

2 days ago, LW was working just fine. Yesterday and today, while LW starts just fine, it won't connect, shows that I'm firewalled even when I have all forms of I'net protection disabled and none of the solutions offered here have solved the mystery.

The only thing that has changed between now and 2 days ago is that I downloaded a MS .net framework update, and being that .net framework can affect runtime environments, could this recent update be our problem?

Thanks in advance,

Taylor

I think UK is asking...
 

...if your ISP measures and controls their subscribers' bandwidth usage.

I thought of this earlier as well, however, I'm able to connect to the I'net and even download and/or stream large files, so I think I can safely rule this out as a possibility on my end.

Might be something to look into as far as your ISP goes, though.

No, I've had this ISP for 6 years, and I've been running LimeWire for almost two. This problem just arose about a week ago. I used LW on a daily basis, collected about 140,000 songs, no problem. Now? Poof.

Bandwidth Shaping
 

A lot of ISPs (possibly the majority), all over the world, have introduced "Bandwidth Shaping" onto their Internet networks, what this does is severely restrict to flow of P2P communication while letting browser traffic through untouched.

In some cases LW will see this restriction as a firewall, so while you are possibly pulling your hair out (I'm bald so have no more hair to loose) wondering what firewall LW is claiiming to be blocked by, you may find that the problem is cause by your ISP.

Now a word of caution, most ISPs will not admit that they have imposed anti-P2P measures on their networks or even tell their own help desks staff. So you may have to approach the questioning of your ISP in a somewhat indirect manner.



UK Bob

Sounds like we're in the same boat then...

Anyone else having a similar issue?

And BTW, when I say I've tried everything offered as a solution in this forum, I mean I've tried EVERYTHING. I've searched the archived posts in hopes of finding some info I was overlooking to no avail.

Igotem, have you recently installed any Microsoft updates, involving .net in particular?

The town I'm from runs mainly off an ISP called Armstrong, meaning everyone I know has Armstrong. Everyones LW works in the area, but mine. So scratch that, too!

Umm, well I have automatic updates on.. so I'm guessing if it was installed I wouldn't know..

Wow, ok I just learned something
 

I thought Bandwidth Shaping merely controlled volume. Didn't know it could only affect P2P traffic.

Ok, with this said, is there a workaround? I think I remember seeing a posting on the subject in one of the "Sticky" posts. I'll pop over to see if there's something there that's applicable.

BRB.

Mr IO

Thanks for the assist.

Sorry, can't help with "MS .net", I just don't know enough about it. However, have you thought of uninstalling the "update", your PCs environment may have been irrevocably changed by it but "uninstalling" still may be worth a try.


UK Bob

Well, I just checked in Windows Update, it automatically download and installs them while I'm sleeping. Anyway to check to see if it's installed or not and how to uninstall it? If thats even the frickin' problem.. :bangh:

Update: Ok, I found what got installed and how to delete them.. heres a list of what is installed recently:

Windows XPSecurity Update for Windows XP (KB933729)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 10, 2007Automatic Updates Windows XPWindows Malicious Software Removal Tool - October 2007 (KB890830)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 10, 2007Automatic Updates Windows XPCumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP (KB939653)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 10, 2007Automatic Updates Windows XPSecurity Update for Outlook Express for Windows XP (KB941202)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 10, 2007Automatic Updates Windows XPCumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP (KB937143)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifFriday, October 05, 2007Automatic Updates Windows XPSecurity Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP (KB938127)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifFriday, October 05, 2007Automatic Updates CAPICOMSecurity Update for CAPICOM (KB931906)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 03, 2007Automatic Updates Windows XPUpdate for Windows XP (KB904942)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 03, 2007Other Source Windows Network Diagnostic Tool (KB914440)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 03, 2007Other Source Windows Network Diagnostic Tool (KB914440)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gif
Windows XPUpdate for Windows XP (KB904942)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 03, 2007Other Source Windows XPSecurity Update for Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 2.0 (KB917283)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 03, 2007Automatic Updates Windows XPSecurity Update for Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 2.0 (KB922770)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 03, 2007Automatic Updates Windows XPSecurity Update for Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 2.0 (KB928365)http://www.update.microsoft.com/micr...successful.gifWednesday, October 03, 2007Automatic Updates

Igotem

You may have to delete your LWs preference file/folder, you will loose all your current LW settings and have to re-enter them again but it will get rid of any corruption that may have occured.

Click on the link for instructions:

http://www.gnutellaforums.com/window...tml#post115445



UK Bob

Hey UK,

Yeah, that's a great thought. I'll give it a go.

This is one of those times that I wish I hadn't disabled my Windows restore points, or I'd just drop back to an earlier config.

BTW, tried to set up a proxy per the "Sticky" post at the top of this forum and that didn't work either, so I'm still stuck like Chuck.

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Thanks for the input UK.

Hey, just noticed something...

When I make sure my "listen on port" selection reads 6346 and then restart LW and go back to ensure the port still reads 6346, it has changed each time.

What's up with that?

BTW, UK, I've deleted my preferences folder several times now (one of the fixes I found in the forum), but the only thing it changes is that I have to re-enter the values next time I start LW...

Just wanted to let you know that I've tried that one.

Thanks anyway.

LOL.. i restored my computer to when LW was working.. now the program wont open at all. This is retarded.

HAHAH I GOT IT TO WORK.. I GOT IT TO WORK.. YAY! Something must've been installed or something in the past two weeks to block all P2P sharing. Maybe it IS a Windows update. All I know is that LW will never ever be shut down again.

:bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh:: bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh::b angh::bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh::bangh:

Now it wont connect.:blink::blink::yikes::yikes::gimmimore::gi mmimore:

This is so bizzare...

Ok.. restarted.. downloaded a song. Finally.. thanks for everyones help on the issue. My main guess is Windows Update came up with an update that haults all P2P usage. Someone may want to look into that...

Wish I had a restore point to go back to...

Glad you're up an running. Looks like the Empire strikes yet again.

I'm gonna see if I can figure out what my latest updates have been and back them out.

Thanks for the input from you both fellas.

Update:

Uninstalled everything back to Oct. 1, reinstalled LW and still no relief...

This is crazy. I just can't figure out how it could be working one day and unable to connect the next.

Unless it's my ISP.

Might have to dig deeper there...