Ok, I have made sure anything in my Windows firewall and my Kaspersky PURE firewall is allowing LW through, and have accepted any notices that have popped up. The settings window is still a problem for me though. It is not the settings window itself that gives me problems, when I open options, click on the transfer tab, and click on browse (for the save to one folder option, or for the save different categories option) it freezes up after i select the folder or even press cancel. I've checked my roaming folder and there is no LW folder there at all to be deleted...which makes me think that, that might be a part of the problem...but that that's just a guess. But since there are important files in there apparently, it would make sense to have a folder there.

I have also blocked the ip addresses that are listed in your link either with my router's firewall (apparently only had space for like 11 or 12) and the Kaspersky PURE firewall, which I blocked all of them (I think I did...but PURE's interface isn't exactly straightforward when trying to block IP addresses), so hopefully that won't be an issue from now on.

So at the moment, I can download most things, but occasionally there are searches that are only available from the uploaders MagicMushroom 7-*, and I cannot download any of them. But most searches are fine.

In any case, I know that this has kind of strayed some from the Java mess of things and into common connection problems, but thanks for the help and the quick replies! ^^

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1. Are you able to change any other settings options? Try!

Did you try to find the LW preferences folder via (a) a 'search' or (b) via manually opening the App data and then Roaming folder?
Keep in mind you will not find the LW preferences folder unless you have the View options set to *Show* 'Hidden Files and Folders'.

I had a similar issue on MacOSX with LW 4, which is one reason why I stopped using it, I have no idea why the preferences (options) suddenly stopped even showing in the menu bar. I had to access it via a backdoor (via the shares window.) But some of my settings would not save.

If you cannot eventually find your preferences folder then ...

2. Here's something to try. Whilst LW is closed, right-click the program or it's shortcut and change compatibility mode. Try what's there, be it Windows XP or earlier, etc. This sometimes for some odd reason fixes issues like you are having with the freezing.

No, my bet is it is a network of spammers. All very similar ip address. Have another look at my post about the ban ranges and you will see some of the networks that spam. The ones you are getting might be a new network ip range. These are professional spammers all working for the same company.

The two numbers you see after the name are the last two numbers of their ip address. As you know ip addresses are divided into 4 sections: x.x.x.x
So their second last number is 7 ... thus .. x.x.7.5 to x.x.7.144
We need to find the first two numbers of their ip range.

Is there any way you can check the 'actual' ip address of whom connects to you, etc.? For MacOSX I use Console which gives a
real-time history of my connections .. and there's another way I can find them via a 3rd party frontend to my OSX firewall which allows me to check all my present connections.

IF you can find their ip addresses and ranges, ban the heck out of them lol And please pass the ip addresses to me via Private Message if possible.

The only ip range in my post I linked you to that looks similar is: 208.93.7.14 - 208.93.7.254 . . (7 hosts seen in this range, spam)
But I do not know if this is the MagicMushroom one.

Note: these companies usually have a half or entire range of ip addresses allotted to them. Sometimes several ranges. Banning them will not in any way affect your web browsing etc. Though of course you can simply just ban them at the LW level in the LW filter ban list.

If you go to your LW Tools menu, Advanced Tools, and if you see any connections to LW 5.1.2 versions, ban them. Likewise if you see any LimeWire 4.21.1(rc) versions. These are all spammers. It's a learning curve, but one you will master eventually.

Edit: I opened LW after a week or so. I cannot find any MagicMushrooms but know I have connected to them before. It sort of stands out as a name lol. I do not have my ban list in action outside of LW at moment but LW itself has quite a few as backup so I may have already banned those ranges.

Birdy suggests you see http://www.gnutellaforums.com/gettin...tml#post357497

BTW I am glad you understand about Forum posting protocol. I think we can excuse it on this occasion for the varied off-thread-topic. The fact you apologised for it helped.