Lime Wire 5.1.3 Won't Connect!

[winmaster]

Hello. I recently installed Lime Wire 5.1.3, but it will not connect, (in the corner, it has no bars and it says "connecting..."). I am running Lime Wire in a Microsoft Virtual Machine. In the past with a different virtual machine, I have gotten Lime Wire 4 to work fine. The following is my entire setup:

Computer: Microsoft Virtual PC Service Pack 1
OS: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3
Firewall: Windows XP Firewall
Router: Westell 327W
ISP: Centurytel
Host Machine: HP Vectra VLi8
Host OS: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3

The virtual machine is running an almost clean install of Windows, and Lime Wire is a clean install on top of that. Since I installed it, it has never connected. I have already tried updating Java, running Lime Wire in compatibility mode for Windows 2000, and deleting the Lime Wire preferences folder. Nothing has worked. I am also unable to access the following URL: http://www3.limewire.com:6346/

Please help me. I am currently not bothering with it, but I would also like to get Lime Wire working with Tor. Thanks for your help!

[Lord of the Rings]

Virtual machine. I'd suggest you check the network connections between the virtual machine & main machine. I also run a few virtual windows but do it on a mac. You suggested you had been able to run LW 4 but on a different virtual machine on the network. The fact you cannot access that test page probably means all ports above those that a browser uses are blocked. These network settings are either in the virtual machine program setup or within your main machine settings, maybe both. I had to allow firewall exception for the networking with the virtual machine on my main machine. I also have different network addresses set for each virtual machine.

Also, for Windows XP firewall, go to firewall exceptions & add LW. Also check the box to allow UPnP.

Another issue, LW on one machine cannot use same port to connect & listen through as any other machine. The router will block them.

The Westell in my experience are best port forwarded, however if UPnP has worked for you in the past this should be ok with luck. First check the main network settings between the virtual & main machine.

I presume you can at least use your browser on the virtual machine?

[winmaster]

Ah, forgot to mention that when I tried to access that website, it was on the host machine. And yes, I can use my web browser in my virtual machine. As far as networking goes, I've tried Shared Networking (where all data requests go through Microsoft Virtual PC) and creating a direct link between the virtual machine and the host's network card. Neither has made a difference. Also, I only run one virtual machine at a time, and I do not have Lime Wire installed on my host. The instance of Lime Wire on my virtual machine is the only one on my entire home network. I also have Windows Firewall configured correctly.

I found the checkbox to enable UPnP on my router, but if you suggest port forwarding, the can you suggest settings for my router, Lime Wire, and Windows Firewall that I should try. I don't have much experience with networking.

Thanks for your help!

[Lord of the Rings]

Ah VPC. Are you sure your host machine is not a mac? I thought VPC was only for macs. If you were using a Mac, I'd recommend Parallels instead of VPC.

On both host machine & VPC the test page for port 6346 are both failing for you? This does suggest the router is at fault.

1. If you port forward, there's a few steps, the first is the most important; setting up a static ip address: How to set up a static IP address on XP which 'probably' needs to be done 'from' your VPC so the network ip address is correct.

2. Find your model on far right of this page: http://portforward.com/routers.htm under Westell. There are a few variations of the 327W model. Then click the ignore advert link at top right, find LW on following list. As for port to use, your choice. As suggested 6346 or even any port between 49152 - 65535. Use same port for both listening & connection. Port forward both TCP & UDP. That will mean the port forwarding will only apply to the VPC. The VPC being considered as a separate computer on the network. Port forwarding only applies to a single computer on any network because PF is based on ip address.
One thing I found different about using VPC was the network address was different to the one the main computer gave. Whereas Parallels shows the correct one. Hope that's not the scenario here. After port forwarding process is complete, not sure about Westell, but some brands/models you need to reboot the router or computer or both to get the process properly saved and started.

[winmaster]

Hello again. Yes, I am sure my host is not a Mac, unless Apple came into my house last night and changed some stuff around. I set up port forwarding and now instead of saying "connecting", it says that there is no Internet connection. What can I do now? I've never had problems like this before.