when i download files, they don't show up in any of my folders. must i manually transfer them from the 'completed downloads' on the search page? where might they be hiding and how can i retrieve them?

You can see where LimeWire saves files by default by going to Tools|Options|Saving.

On windows this is usually c:\program files\Limewire\saved

Look there for your files.

No - you do not need to move or do anything else with 'completed download' files - they are moved to your save folder automatically.

Mark