says connecting but never connects

[KimFischer18]

Hi. I've just purchased the LimeWire 4.16 and cannot get it connected. The notice state "You are currently connecting to the network" but never actually connects. I have made sure my McAfee Security Center has allowed access, but still no good. Can anyone help? Thanks

[birdy]

Try the fixes in the post below. If nothing there helps, post back with your system details (the thread has info about which details we need)
If LW Will Not Connect

[m00kie]

I've waited for a few hours for Limewire to connect, but it never does. I checked out almost every possible link to try to figure out my problem, but I still can't connect. Birdy, you said to post my system details:

1. Windows XP
2. Windows Firewall
3. I'm not sure how much RAM I have...
4. Again, I'm not sure about Hard Disk space either
5. cable connection
6. Linksys WRT54GS
7. connecting from my house
8. LW 4.16.6 & Java 1.6.0_02
9. Cogeco Cable
10. "Your test worked!"
11. Yes, I'm sharing my connection with two other computers, but they are not currently being used.
12. I have used LW before, but this problem has never occurred until I re-installed LW yesterday.
13. Yes, I see the brick wall, but I can't seem to turn it off.
14. I am not sure what this question means.
15. Trend-Micro & Norton Antivirus
16. Canada

I don't know if this is relevant in any way, but on my Windows Firewall window, my firewall is turned off. Yet on my Windows Security Center, it says the firewall is turned on. And I can't find a way to turn it off.

[birdy]

Hi m00kie,

Are you sure that you don't have another firewall installed, besides the Windows one? If you have another firewall installed (& turned on) & turn the XP firewall off, the security centre will still show a firewall on...but it won't be the Windows one When you're in Security Centre, click on the button with 2 little arrows pointing down, next to the green 'On'...that will show you which firewall is on.

Which fixes from the 'if LW will not connect' thread did you try? Make sure to try them all. Update your Java & see if that helps (also try the older Java version). Remember to uninstall all other Java versions before you install another version.

When you deleted LW's preferences folder & replaced the gnutella.net file, did you make sure that LW was properly closed? Otherwise those fixes won't help at all.

Go into your preferences folder & find the gnutella.net file & hover your mouse over the file...how big is it?

Did you also try port forwarding for your router? The instructions are here.
Port Forwarding for the Linksys WRT54GS
Don't forget to set up a static IP address first! LW's listening port, port in the 'manual port forward' box & port forwarded within the router setup should all be the same number.