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Limewire not connecting - Used to be fine

Hi, I used to have limewire on my laptop, but then restored it to factory settings. Now it won't work. Previously it worked 1st time without having to change anything.

Here are my system details:

1. OS version? Windows XP
2. What firewalls you have? Norton Smart Firewall (Norton Internet Security)
3. How much ram? 1Gb
4. Hard Disk space available? 17 Gb
5. Connection type? Broadband
6. Modem & router brand name & model numbers? (eg: Linksys WRT54Gv4)
7. Where are you trying to connect from? House
8. What version of LimeWire (LW) & Java do you have? Limwire: 4.18.8
Java: 1.6.0_11
9. Who is your ISP (Internet Service Provider)? Tiscali
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? Your test worked
11. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs? If yes, please give details of set up. Only another laptop using wireless internet
12. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user. New problem with experience user
13. Do you see a brick wall in front of the blue world icon at the bottom of LW's interface? Yes
14. For those using a modem/router, how is your modem/router set up...are you port forwarding or is UPnP enabled? UPnP is enabled
15. What security programs are you using (antivirus etc)? Norton INternet Security
16. What country are you living in? Sometimes there are ISPs with the same name in more than one country. England
17. Has anything in your setup changed recently? Have you updated your version of LW or Java? Have you added any new software or new hardware? Have you updated any software? Have you moved house, changed internet plan or ISP etc etc? I restored my laptop back to factory settings, but it previously worked 1st time

Please post back, or email me ASAP. Thanks

I've done everything..I think

I've used LW forever and never had a problem, but I just got a new laptop with bigger and better stuff and LW won't connect. Windows firewall is turned on, but LW is listed as an exception. My Anti-Virus is AVG8, but LW is listed as an exception and I completely uninstalled AVG and no change. I also turned off the Windows firewall and no change. I have no other security programs. I'm using XP Pro. Any suggestions??

Try the fixes in the thread below. There's info there about how to reconfigure the Norton firewall. Double check that the XP firewall's off - that will conflict with Norton.
If LW Will Not Connect

Start off by
1. Deleting/replacing gnutella.net file.
2. Deleting preferences folder.
3. Changing port numbers.

If those don't help, go through the rest of the fixes in the help thread.

You could also try port forwarding for your router. The instructions are here: Port Forwarding for the Linksys WRT54Gv4
You'll need to set up a static IP address first: PortForward.com - Free Help Setting up Your Router or Firewall
LW's listening port, port in the 'manual port forward' box & port forwarded within router config all have to be the same number:)

Tiscali are well known for causing problems (connection & download) with LW - yes, sometimes out of the blue when the user's had no problems in the past. Use the forum search to look for Tiscali & you'll find lots of info;)

1. OS version? Windows XP
2. What firewalls you have? -Windows only
3. How much ram? 3Gb
4. Hard Disk space available? 145 Gb
5. Connection type? Broadband DSL
6. Modem & router brand name & model numbers? (Netgear WGT624v3) Modem is Alltel
7. Where are you trying to connect from? House
8. What version of LimeWire (LW) & Java do you have? Limwire: 4.18.8
Java: 1.6.0_11
9. Who is your ISP (Internet Service Provider)? Alltel
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? It does nothing and just times out
11. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs? If yes, please give details of set up. Only another laptop using wireless internet I have another desktop musing the internet with me, but no P2P.
12. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user. New problem with experience user. I have used this version on another computer and recently bought a laptop. Now I can't connect-stillusing the same software as before and, as far as I know, everything is the same just a different computer.
13. Do you see a brick wall in front of the blue world icon at the bottom of LW's interface? Yes definetly there, but the exception is checked. also, i turned it off and nothing changed.
14. For those using a modem/router, how is your modem/router set up...are you port forwarding or is UPnP enabled? UPnP is enabled I am not port forwarding and yes, UPnP is enabled.
15. What security programs are you using (antivirus etc)? AVG8 - I have entered an exception for LW. Also turned it off with no results.
16. What country are you living in? Sometimes there are ISPs with the same name in more than one country. USA
7. Has anything in your setup changed recently? Have you updated your version of LW or Java? Have you added any new software or new hardware? Have you updated any software? Have you moved house, changed internet plan or ISP etc etc? I restored my laptop back to factory settings, but it previously worked 1st time I have a new computer (Laptop)

I'm sending this to you because this problem really has me blinded. I have turned off the preferences and turned off the "show Tips at start up". I have changed port numbers, but have to say I'm out of my knowledge base on this stuff. I re-installed LW and it, again, set the port for "Listen-in" but still nothing. I don't know where the Gnutella.net file is (you suiggsted to turn it off or delete it. I guess I'm a little confused on that point.

thanks for your help..

If you click on this link... If LW Will Not Connect
... you'll find instructions for finding the gnutella.net file. If deleting that file & then restarting LW doesn't help, that link has more links where you can download a new gnutella.net file. There are instructions for replacing the gnutella.net file.

Make sure that your XP firewall is allowing LW (click on link): PortForward.com - Free Help Setting up Your Windows XP Firewall.

After you deleted LW's preferences folder, did you have to go through LW's setup wizard all over again?

Did you try all of the other fixes in the help thread?

Did you remember to click Apply after changing port numbers? Also, try a few different numbers in the range shown in the 'if LW will not connect' thread. If the port 6346 test doesn't work, it can sometimes mean that an ISP is blocking some ports.

You can also try port forwarding, rather than using UPnP. The instructions are here: Port Forwarding for the Netgear WGT624v3
First, you'll need to set up a static IP address: PortForward.com - Free Help Setting up Your Router or Firewall
LW's listening port, port in the 'manual port forward' box & port forwarded within router config all have to be the same number;)

I must be incapable

I went to the location listed to find the gnutella file and I don't have one.. just 3 empty folders are there under "Limewire" folder. So I went to the sites listed to download the file and the first one can't find the file and the second one says it downloaded it. but I can't find it. Can you tell me where it downloaded it to?

I just found out how to download the gntella.net file, but it is password protected on the site. Can you help with this? The zShare site link to download the file is either out of date or something. No actual page will load from that link.

The file doesn't show as password protected for me:confused: Anyway, try this new link (it's definitely not password protected): gnutella.net

The zshare link works fine for me. But - here's another of those as well: zSHARE - gnutella.net

A few other people have said that they didn't even have a gnutella.net file to start with! That's ok - just put one into the LimeWire folder (make sure that LW's properly closed first);)

I have found the file: GNUTELLA.EXE and pasted it in the correct location. Limewire was completely closed when I did it. No change in connection.

Now it seems that port forwarding is the next step.
1. I open my program (Limewire) and go to the firewall page and de-select UP&P and select manual port.
2. I select a random number for a port and enter that number.

3. I open my router and click on “Port Forwarding.”
4. I click to ADD and enter my program name – choose TCP/UDP – Enter the same port numbers as above – type in the IP of my computer.
5. Click on APPLY

When I do this my router says that a conflict is present with no clues as to what or where that is. I have never don't this before so I don't know that i am doing everything right. Any help??:shoot:

Where did you get a gnutella.exe??
None of the files that I uploaded are .exe files... they're just text files (you can open them with Notepad & read what's inside them)!!

Did you set up a static IP address before port forwarding?

Just backtracking a bit - after you originally deleted LW's preferences folder (you said "turned off" but I guess that you mean you deleted the folder), did you have to go through LW's setup wizard all over again?

First: let me say that I thoughyt I was just misunderstanding you when you referenced a "preference file." I can't find an actual file caslled "Preference." Maybe we should start there. Also, this morning I got my IP address for my computer (I'm thinking that is what I'm supposed to do) and I bought the Port Forwarding software and port-forwarded. Everything worked right.. I think. According to the software everything worked well. I then loaded LW and under firewall-chose "manual port forwarding- and entered these ports 1003 and in the listen port as well. then closed LW completely and loaded it again.. still no connection, not even a try to connect is noticable. I'm not very smart on this stuff so thanks for your patience. Tell me what and where to go and I will do it.

If I need to uninstall and start over.. that's easy.

Same problem here, and I already tried everything from the "If LW will not connect"

1. OS version? Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit
2. What firewalls you have? Only Windows'
3. How much ram? 4Gb
4. Hard Disk space available? About 190 Gb
5. Connection type? Broadband (5mbit)
6. Modem & router brand name & model numbers? D-Link DSL-2640B
7. Where are you trying to connect from? Home
8. What version of LimeWire (LW) & Java do you have? Limwire: 6.18.8
Java: The newest to date
9. Who is your ISP (Internet Service Provider)? GVT (Brazil)
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? Your test worked
11. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs? If yes, please give details of set up. Another laptop using wireless internet
12. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user. New problem with experience user
13. Do you see a brick wall in front of the blue world icon at the bottom of LW's interface? Yes
14. For those using a modem/router, how is your modem/router set up...are you port forwarding or is UPnP enabled? Port Forwarding
15. What security programs are you using (antivirus etc)? None
16. What country are you living in? Sometimes there are ISPs with the same name in more than one country. Brazil
17. Has anything in your setup changed recently? Have you updated your version of LW or Java? Have you added any new software or new hardware? Have you updated any software? Have you moved house, changed internet plan or ISP etc etc? Got a new laptop

Additional Info: this is my 4th day with the new computer and I've already managed to download something with FrostWire and even connected to the LimeWire network once, but ain't working anymore. Also, right in the beginning I uninstalled Norton 360 (which came from factory) and right after that I got a blue screen message, so I had to reboot from last known good config, which quite messed up things over here. But everything else is working fine, including games, MSN, etc... Oh yeah, and I've already port-forwarded, got a static IP, everything you can possibly think of! Windows Firewall is off.

Right now I'm going to test Ubuntu and try to install some P2P program on it.

As I make progress, if any, I will post it so maybe you can use it. I just don't know where to turn at the moment.

The GNUTELLA that I downloaded and now is in the folder "limewire" is an exe file. When I click on it it loads Limewire. That's right isn't it?

I uninstalled and started over

I'm afraid that i have done too much so I uninstalled everything and re-installed from scratch. I undid the port-forwarding also. I now am back to UPnP both in my router and in LW. I went to the location: c:\program files\limewire to try to see a Gnutella file and there isn't one. I went in LW to tools\advanced to find a preference file and there isn't one. I'm going to wait for your reply to tell me exactly what to do first. Give me a path to the preference file you're talking about. Give me a path to the folder that the Gnuteela file is supposed to be in. Thanks

I've got the port-forwarding down now if you want me to do that, but I'm waiting for your advice to begin.

You're looking in the wrong place for the preferences folder. The link I gave you earlier called 'If LW will not connect" has all the info that you need to find the preferences folder.

It tells you that the preferences folder is named LimeWire. C:\Documents and Settings\your username\Application Data\LimeWire.
Also look for a prefs folder in the old location if you've used much older versions of LW in the past.

Here is the info which is within the help thread:

Quote:

DELETE LIMEWIRE'S PREFERENCES FOLDER
If neither replacing the gnutella.net file or updating Java helps, you may need to delete LW's preferences folder. Sometimes the preferences become corrupted & in that case, deleting the old folder can help. A new folder is created the next time you start LW.
Quote:
Deleting LW's preferences folder will change all of the settings within LW's options (speed, max number of downloads, down/upload bandwidth etc etc). If you're not too sure of your settings, go to LW's tools > options & make a note of how everything's set, so that you can reset things later.

You might have 2 preferences folders - one named .limewire & one named LimeWire. Sometimes there are 2 folders, because different versions of LW have the folder in different locations.

1. Close LW. Make sure that LW is properly closed by opening task manager (ctrl+alt+del) & checking whether there's a LW process running. If there is, end that process.

2. Go to Control Panel, double click on Folder Options & then click on the View tab. Make sure there's a dot in the button next to 'Show hidden files and folders' then click Apply & click OK.

3. Now go to Start > click on My Computer > double click on C drive > double click on the folder with your username. Once you're in the 'your username' folder, look for a folder named .limewire & if you have a folder named .limewire, delete that whole folder. If you don't have a folder named .limewire then that's ok. Close all folders.
oldprefsfolder.jpg

4. Go back to Start > click on My Computer > double click on C drive > double click on Documents and Settings > double click on the folder with your username > double click on Application Data. Once you're in the Application Data, look for a folder named LimeWire (there's no dot in front of this one & the letters aren't all lower case). Delete that whole folder named LimeWire. Close all folders.
prefsfolder.jpg
5. Restart your computer.

6. Start up LW & see whether it will connect. If LW connects, you're all done & you can go back through LW's tools > options & set everything there back to the way you like it.

If you're using Vista, you'll need to look for your preferences folder in a different place. Try C:\Users\your username\AppData\Roaming\LimeWire
And more info about how to show hidden files & folders, and how to find the preferences folder here LimeWire Pref Folder in Vista

Mac OS X users see LOTR's post in this thread for how to delete preferences: http://www.gnutellaforums.com/295239-post5.html

You'll know if you've deleted the preferences folder properly...when you start LW, it will take you through the setup wizard. Also, all of the settings within LW's options will have reverted back to default. If you restart LW & don't have to go through the setup wizard, that means that you haven't deleted the preferences folder properly. In that case, make sure that LW's properly closed & start again!

And here is the info about replacing the gnutella.net file (all of this is also within the help thread):

Quote:

DELETE/REPLACE gnutella.net FILE

Close LW. Make sure that it’s properly closed by opening Task Manager (ctrl+alt+del) & click on the Processes tab. If there’s a LW process running, end the process.

*Try deleting your gnutella.net file first. See the info below for instructions to find the file (don't worry about downloading a new file for now). Make sure that LW's closed (otherwise it's a waste of time), delete the gnutella.net file, restart LW... if it connects then you're done. If it won't connect then come back to this sticky for instructions about replacing the gnutella.net file.*

The link below will take you to a file hosting site where you can download a file named gnutella.net.
zSHARE - gnutella.net
If that link doesn't work, try this other one.
gnutella.net

Download that file & save it to your computer. Remember where you've saved the file to.

If you're using XP, look below.

Go to Control Panel > Folder Options > click on the View tab > put a dot in the circle next to ‘show hidden files and folders’ > apply > ok.

Go to Start > click on My Computer > double click on Documents and Settings > double click on the folder with your username > double click on Application Data. Now look for a folder named LimeWire. This folder named LimeWire is your preferences folder. You need to open the LimeWire folder by double clicking on it.
prefsfolder.jpg
Once you’ve opened the LimeWire folder, look for a file named gnutella.net (or it may be named gnutella).
gnutella.netfile.jpg
Delete that file. Leave the LimeWire folder open.
If there’s no file named gnutella.net or gnutella, don’t panic...you can put one into the folder.

Go & find the gnutella.net file that you downloaded earlier. Copy that gnutella.net file & paste it into the open LimeWire folder.

Close all folders, restart your computer & then start LW.

If you're using Vista, you'll need to look for your preferences folder in a different place. Try C:\Users\your username\AppData\Roaming\LimeWire
And more info about how to show hidden files & folders, and how to find the preferences folder here LimeWire Pref Folder in Vista

Mac users check out LOTR's post here for instructions: http://www.gnutellaforums.com/326820-post7.html

Your gnutella.net file belongs inside the preferences folder (which is named LimeWire).

Just go through the instructions above. I made them as easy to follow as possible.

This time I followed every step

Thanks for making it easy. I am getting familiar with this stuff as we go. I have completed the two steps, this is a new computer so no earlier versions were ever possible. I deleted the preference folder and re-started PC and then LW and still no connection. I deleted the gnutella file and restarted the LW and still no connection. In fact, it dowesn't even act like it is trying to connect.

What do we do now?

Ok... after you deleted LW's preferences folder, did you have to go through the setup wizard?

Did you replace your gnutella.net file with one of the ones in post #8?

Which other fixes have you tried from this thread (click on link): If LW Will Not Connect
That thread has lots of different fixes because there are lots of different things which have worked for people in the past. You need to try them all.

Please send me a PM & tell me the static IP address that you used when you were setting up port forwarding. Click on this link to send me a PM: http://www.gnutellaforums.com/privat...=newpm&u=29749

Which port forwarding software did you buy? You don't really need to buy software to set up port forwarding - the instructions for your router (link in post #5 should have all the info that you need;)

Did everything again and again

Yes, I had to go through the set up again after deleting the preference file.

Yes, I replaced the gntella file with one of the posts ones.

I went through the fixes one at a time for several times..all the fixes.

PFCONFIG is the software. I checked it and it did what it was supposed to do. For a while I was having trouble accomplishing it so I bought the software. Now I know how to do it without it.